As a rule, NHL teams retain the rights to their drafted college prospects for four seasons. For this reason, the CH had to make a decision earlier this summer not to sign (and release) prospect Brett Stapley.
However, a change in the rules occurred a few weeks ago. This gave the CH the option to retain the rights to their prospect. Given that its operations have been disrupted tremendously by the pandemic, the NCAA would finally allow players to return for a fifth year.
This change, however, was not enough to keep Stapley's services and he was released by the CH. Jack Gorniak, on the other hand, will be able to stay on the club's roster for another year.
Brett Stapley will get another chance to impress the Habs organization, however, as he accepted a one-season AHL contract offer with the Laval Rocket on Tuesday.
Stapley, 23, scored a solid 43 points in 41 games last season in the NCAA. The CH's 2018 seventh-round pick was even considered among the top players in American college.
