ECHL Teams Submit Protected Lists for 2025-26 Season

The ECHL has officially released the Protected Lists submitted by all 31 of its Member teams ahead of the 2025-26 season. These lists include players who are protected from the NHL's annual expansion draft based on criteria outlined in the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association. Teams are permitted to protect as many players as they choose, with lists often exceeding 20 names.

Under the guidelines, players who signed a Standard Player Contract (SPC) for the 2025-26 season and have not been traded or released are eligible for protection. Additionally, players who were recalled to the NHL or AHL but have not been traded or released are also protected. The list also includes those who received a Qualifying Offer last summer and declined an SPC, as well as those who signed an SPC after the 2025-26 regular season began but then signed an NHL/AHL contract.

The Adirondack Thunder submitted the longest list with 24 players, including key names like Henry Welsch, Dennis Busby, and Odeen Tufto. The Allen Americans also filed a lengthy list with 25 players, protecting names such as Brett Mirwald, Marco Costantini, and Lukas Sillinger. The Atlanta Gladiators and Bloomington Bison each submitted 27 names, the most of any team in the league.

The ECHL has set key deadlines for the off-season. All Future Consideration trades must be completed by 3 p.m. ET on June 20. Teams must also submit their Season-Ending Rosters by 3 p.m. ET on June 22. These rosters can include up to 20 players and must consist of those who signed an ECHL contract in 2025-26.

With the Protected Lists finalized, the league now turns its attention to the NHL expansion draft, which is expected to take place in early July. Teams will have to make final decisions on which unprotected players to expose, setting the stage for a pivotal summer in the ECHL.