The following dates are the deadlines by which the Habs must sign a currently unsigned player or relinquish their rights without compensation:
August 15, 2026:
Jack Smith (4/102, 2020 – Minnesota State, NCAA)
June 1, 2027:
Filip Eriksson (6/165, 2023 – Lulea, SHL)
Andrew MacNiel (6/189, 2025 – Kitchener, OHL)
August 15, 2027:
Emmett Croteau (5/162, 2022 – Dartmouth, NCAA)*
Sam Harris (5/133, 2023 – Denver, NCAA)
*Croteau was originally listed as August 15, 2026, but by playing out his full college eligibility, his signing timeline was extended.
June 1, 2028:
Rasmus Bergqvist (7/224, 2024 – Skelleftea, SHL)
Aatos Koivu (3/70, 2024 – TPS, Liiga)
August 15, 2028:
Michael Hage (1/21, 2024 – Michigan, NCAA)
Logan Sawyer (3/78, 2024 – Providence, NCAA)
June 1, 2029:
Cooper Cleaves (3/93, 2026 – Dartmouth, NCAA)
Tyler Deakos (7/224, 2026 – Penticton, WHL)
Carlos Handel (6/177, 2025 – Kolner Haie, DEL)*
*Handel was originally listed as June 1, 2027. However, by signing in Germany one year later, Montreal gets his signing rights for four years instead of two.
August 15, 2029:
Alexis Cournoyer (5/145, 2025 – Wisconsin, NCAA)*
Ben Merrill (6/166, 2024 – Boston University, NCAA)
Quentin Miller (4/128, 2023 – Western Michigan, NCAA)^
Maxon Vig (7/209, 2025 – Bemidji State, NCAA)
*Cournoyer and Miller were originally listed as June 1, 2027, but by going to college, their rights were extended. If they play their full college eligibility, their rights can be extended to this point. If they deregister from school before then, they’ll be a free agent 30 days later.
June 1, 2030:
Jean-Samuel Daigneault (7/221, 2026 – Brantford, OHL)
Wesley Royston (6/190, 2026 – Owen Sound, OHL)
Timofei Runtso (2/57, 2026 – Miami (Ohio), NCAA)
August 15, 2030:
L.J. Mooney (4/113, 2025 – USNTDP, USHL)
Hayden Paupanekis (3/69, 2025 – St. Cloud State, NCAA)^
*Paupanekis was originally listed as June 1, 2027, but by going to college, his rights were extended. If he plays his full college eligibility, his rights can be extended to this point. If he deregisters from school before then, he’d be a free agent 30 days later.
June 1, 2031:
Brayden Klimpke (4/117, Saskatoon, WHL)*
Parker Trottier (6/189, 2026 – Regina, WHL)*
*If they play their full college commitments. If they don’t, their timelines will be moved up to June 1, 2030.
August 15, 2031:
Arseni Radkov (3/82, 2025 – Val-d’Or, QMJHL)
Mikus Vecvanags (5/134, Victoria, BCHL)^
Vecvanags was originally listed as June 1, 2028, but by committing to play in college, his rights were extended. If he plays his full college eligibility, his rights can be extended to this point. If he deregisters from school before then, he’d be a free agent 30 days later.
Indefinite Rights:
Alexander Gordin (6/171, 2020 – Gornyak, VHL)
Makar Khanin (7/210, 2024 – Dynamo, VHL)
Bogdan Konyushkov (4/110, 2023 – Torpedo, KHL)
Dmitri Kostenko (3/87, 2021 – Amur Khabarovsk, KHL)
Gleb Pugachyov (1/26, 2026 – Chaika, MHL)
Ty Smilanic (3/74, 2020 – Trois-Rivieres, ECHL)
Daniil Sobolev (5/142, 2021 – Spartak, KHL)
Yevgeni Volokhin (5/144, 2023 – Spartak, KHL)
Alexander Zharovsky (2/34, 2025 – Salavat Yulaev, KHL)
^ Player can drop out of college and become a UFA one year earlier than their listed date if they so desire as it will be their fourth year since being drafted.
Under the CBA extension set for September 2026, new changes to player rights are in effect. While the screenshot below from the CBA says the changes start in 2027, they ultimately started with the 2026 draft. These are the rules for drafted players from countries with a Player Transfer Agreement with the NHL. Those drafted from countries without one have their rights held indefinitely.
