NHL and NHLPA Voice Opposition to NCAA's Proposed Five-Year Eligibility Rule

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The NHL and its players’ association have expressed their disapproval of a possible NCAA policy that would grant athletes five years of eligibility from their high school graduation or their 19th birthday, whichever comes first. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly stated on Tuesday, ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, “We’re not in favor of the change, and we’ve made the NCAA aware of it."

Daly emphasized that several hockey organizations across North America, including junior leagues in Canada, the USHL, USA Hockey, and the college coaches association, share similar concerns. He pointed out that hockey differs from sports like basketball, baseball, and football, as players tend to be older after spending time in junior leagues or prep schools.

In a conversation last week with NCAA President Charlie Baker, Daly noted that Baker is cautious about sport-specific solutions and suggested that other college sports might face similar issues. “He did stress that he doesn’t like sport-specific solutions and felt there may be a number of other sports, college sports, that would be able to make the same argument,” Daly explained.

The NHL is already navigating significant changes in its development framework, particularly after the NCAA permitted players from the junior Canadian Hockey League to participate in college hockey. Implementing the proposed “five in five” rule could add further complexity. “I hope that a one-size-fitting-all solution, which disadvantages some sports over others, isn’t the way they go because I think that would be unfair to us,” remarked NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Ron Hainsey, assistant executive director of the NHLPA and a former college hockey player at UMass-Lowell, acknowledged that while the union has been sidelined in discussions, it opposes the change. “When that comes forward, it’s incumbent upon us to at least make an impression on how that will affect the entire hockey ecosystem,” he stated. His superior, former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, plans to discuss the matter with Baker, noting, “We have concerns. So, we’re going to continue to monitor that.”