There was some breaking news in the league yesterday that could impact the Sharks. The NHL is pushing to move forward with the new NHL\CHL agreement outlined in the new CBA. While there is no agreement in place at this time, it would be immensely beneficial for the Sharks.
The new NHL/CHL arrangement would see NHL teams allowed to roster one CHL-eligible 19-year-old on their AHL roster. Currently, clubs are only allowed to keep CHL-eligible players on their NHL roster; otherwise, they must be reassigned to their Junior clubs for the remainder of the CHL season. The new arrangement was anticipated to be introduced for the 2026-27 season, but there is a push from the league to enact it a year earlier.
From the Sharks' perspective, they could really benefit from the rule being implemented for the 2025 campaign. With a pair of teenagers expected to push for a roster spot, Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson are currently ineligible to play in the AHL under the current rules. While the Sharks could only assign one player to the AHL if needed under the new rules, it is still a significant benefit to the organization.
In particular, it could be a significant boon for Sam Dickinson’s development. The 19-year-old defenseman just torched the OHL, leading London in scoring, and has little benefit in returning to the league for another season. However, the learning curve from juniors to the NHL can be particularly jarring for a defenseman. Allowing him to get his feet under him in the AHL is likely the ideal scenario for his development this season.
As for Misa, I fully expect him to crack the NHL roster out of training camp, and more likely than not, stick with the Sharks on a similar development plan to Will Smith’s that was utilized last season.
While nothing is for certain, this is an interesting development to keep an eye on as we head into training camp, as it could affect what the Sharks do this coming season.