NHL waivers are a roster-control process that lets other teams claim a player before his current team can send him to the minors, terminate his contract, or make certain other moves.

Quick Scoop

Here’s the simple version:

  • A team places a player on waivers.
  • Other NHL teams have a short window to claim him.
  • If another team claims him, that team takes the player and his contract under the waiver rules.
  • If nobody claims him, he “clears waivers,” and the original team can usually assign him to the AHL or keep him on the NHL roster.

Why it exists

Waivers are meant to give every NHL team a fair shot at acquiring a player who is being moved off a roster spot. In practice, they stop clubs from hiding experienced players in the minors without giving the rest of the league a chance to claim them.

How it works

  • Most waivers last 24 hours.
  • Claim priority generally goes to the team with the worst standing or lowest points percentage at that time.
  • If a player clears waivers, teams can often move him down, recall him, or trade him depending on the situation and the player’s status.
  • Some players are exempt because of age, games played, or contract stage.

Easy example

If a team wants to send a veteran forward to the AHL, it may need to put him on waivers first. If another NHL team wants him, it can claim him during the window; if not, the player clears and the move can go through.

Bottom line

NHL waivers are basically the league’s “public notice” system for certain player moves, especially when a team wants to move a player out of the NHL roster. If you want, I can also explain who has to go on waivers and who is exempt in plain English.