The upcoming Olympic Roster freeze will take effect from February 4 at 3 PM ET and will last until February 22 at 11:59 PM ET, putting restrictions on player transactions for participating teams. During this period, several important rules will govern the movements of players.
Firstly, trades will be completely prohibited. Teams will not be able to make any trades during this time, forcing them to rely on their current rosters as they prepare for the Olympic break.
Additionally, there will be guidelines regarding player transactions that teams can make. Players who are waiver-exempt can still be sent down to their respective AHL teams. However, this does not apply to players who have played in 16 of their team’s 20 NHL games prior to the freeze, or those who have been part of the NHL roster for 80 days or more leading up to January 21.
While teams can place players on waivers during the freeze, it is noteworthy that if a player is waived after their NHL team’s last game before the freeze, they will not be required to report to their new team until February 17.
In essence, teams will need to creatively manage their rosters as they prepare for the Olympics, and they must strategically navigate the rules in order to ensure they are in the best position for the remainder of the season before and after the freeze. This unique situation highlights the delicate balance franchises must maintain between competing in the NHL and supporting their players participating in the Olympic Games.