Professional Tryout Contract

ECHL: Bloomington Bison Provide Tryout Deal to Rivermen Rookie

There is no denying that when the Bloomington Bison announced their expansion into the ECHL, many hockey fans in the area wondered if they would see any movement of players from the nearby SPHL franchise, the Peoria Rivermen, to Bloomington. Today, it was announced that Peoria Rivermen rookie standout winger Mike Gelatt has signed an […]

When Can Newly-Drafted Prospects Break Through Into The NHL?

When do or can prospects make the jump to the NHL/AHL level? Most NHL prospects take 3-5 years post-draft to reach the NHL, with less than a third of first-rounders making an NHL team. Factors like skill development and individual progression dictate the timeline. Additionally, a strict NHL-CHL agreement impacts where prospects can play, depending on age. Any player under the age of 20 is ineligible to play in the AHL. NHL Entry Draft intricacies, entry-level contracts, Russian political issues and AHL stints shape a prospect’s journey.