The NHL trade deadline passing at 3pm EST Mar. 7 also had several implications for the remainder of the American Hockey League season.
In order to be eligible for the AHL playoffs a player must have been on an AHL roster by the NHL’s 3pm deadline, which resulted in numerous paper transactions throughout the day. Many of these players will be recalled in the coming hours.
All AHL transactions from the day can be seen here.
NHL teams can make four non-emergency recalls from their AHL affiliate after the trade deadline. This usually is not a big deal as roster moves often get classified as emergency call-ups. This occurs when a team does not have 12 healthy forwards, six healthy defensemen, or two healthy goalies.
The AHL roster deadline is Mar. 14, players currently on AHL rosters can be loaned or traded until then.
Once the NCAA season ends teams will begin signing college free agents. These free agents are eligible to play in the AHL playoffs if they sign an Amateur try-out contract (ATO) and do not play in a NHL game.
Happy deadline day! Your annual reminder that not only are NHL playoff rosters set today, so too are AHL. So any player who is to be eligible for AHL playoffs needs to be on that roster at the deadline. Can always move back to NHL after that.
— Alison (@AlisonL) March 7, 2025
There are no NHL roster limits after the trade deadline, but teams must remain cap compliant. The AHL has no roster limits.
Waivers remain the same after the deadline, so a player who needs waivers will need to clear in order to be assigned to the AHL.
The AHL Rule Book can be seen here.
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