Caps Sign John Carlson

Any idea what this means with regards to him staying with his current team and/or going to Hershey?

Along the same lines, isn't there a minimum age for the AHL?

@ Rage and Lisa: Carlson is not eligible to play in the AHL or NHL until his OHL season is complete. He could then (and probably will) be sent to Hershey or, in theory, here.

JP, are you certain he can go to Hershey for the playoffs? He doesn't turn 20 until 2010, which means he isn't eligible to play in Hershey next season. Does that matter at all?

@ brads: Not certain - I was basing it on Godfrey's call to Hershey last year at the end of the first regular season after he was drafted. I could be totally wrong.

As I understand it:

A player has to be 20 years old by December 31st of a given season to be eligible to play in the A, unless (a) he's European and his rights are not owned by a Canadian junior team or (b) he played for an NCAA team for one season before turning pro. Neither of which apply to Carlson.

Godfrey was born in January of 1988, so he turned 20 by last season's playoffs.

Carlson was born in 1990. Yes, 1990.

What I just said about Godfrey being 20 in April didn't make any sense. Maybe I'm partly right.

Per the team, Carlson will be eligible for the AHL once his team is eliminated from the OHL playoffs.

Pepper - I think the rule you're referencing refers to the inability of teams to send players like Carlson (or Alzner last year, etc.) to the AHL for the season, but there's a wrinkle in the rule if the kid has played a full season in juniors.

Once a player's season is complete with their junior (CHL) team, they can play for Hershey/AHL regardless of their age and regardless of whether or not they have a signed contract with the NHL team. And they can play for the AHL affiliate in the playoffs and the next season still go back and play for their CHL team. (see as examples Jeff Schultz, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter)

This season, Carlson is ineligible to play for Hershey before the London Knights' season is over. He could only be called to the Caps in an emergency situation (very unlikely, but see Edmonton 2 seasons ago and Columbus last season for examples.)

He can be assigned to the Bears or Caps roster after his season is complete.

Carlson was drafted as an USHL player that had signed to play for the London Knights in the OHL this season. I assume this means the CHL (OHL/WHL/Q) rules apply as it relates to prospects, not NCAA/USHL/Europe. If true, when he is 19yo, he will be ineligible to play for Hershey/AHL, but eligible to play for the Caps/NHL team. He had already signed with London by the time he was drafted but had not played for them. Perhaps, there's a technicality since he had not been on the roster and he would not be considered a CHL player for draft purposes??? In that case, if the CHL rules don't apply, he could play in the AHL next season. I don't recall a case like this (have to think about it) where a player is drafted before playing in the CHL as he had been retaining his college eligibility but then changed to the CHL (this is different than Wheeler's NCAA situation and Phoenix, for example.)

Ok, I gave this more thought and came up with an example, happens to be within the Caps system. Michal Neuvirth. He was drafted as a European player and then played in the CHL, but the CHL rule didn't apply and he was eligible to play in the AHL as a 19yo.

He signed his contract with the London Knights before the draft, but he had not played in the CHL. If that interpretation is correct, he is eligible to play for Hershey next season.