Rules

KHL Rulebook

Section 1 - Object

1.1 To assemble a line-up of NHL Hockey players whose statistics during the regular season, measured by the methods described in these rules, exceed those of all other teams in the league.

Section 2 – Teams

2.1 The league consists of 26 franchises, in one conference.

2.2 Owner participation is expected. Owners are expected to participate in online drafts, respond to trade offers on time, and maintain their team's day-to-day operations.

Section 3 – Schedule

3.1 Teams play 3 different opponents each period of the NHL season with the last four periods reserved for the KHL playoffs. The regular season is usually 22 weeks or 66 games.

3.2 Each period is based on a Monday to Sunday week, however, some periods may be longer or shorter as determined by the NHL schedule.

Section 4 – Regular Season

4.1 Teams play 66 regular season games, three games for each of the NHL regular season periods, less four periods for KHL playoffs.

4.2 The schedule is subject to the length of the NHL season and could vary based on Olympic participation, strikes, lockouts, and pandemic.

Section 5 - Playoffs

5.1 Playoffs take place during the final 4 periods of the NHL season.

5.2 After the regular season is completed, the top 16 teams will qualify for the playoffs.

5.3 Each round of the playoffs is a one-period sudden-death playoff.

5.4 In round one, the 1st place team is matched up against the 16th place team, the 2nd place team plays the 15th place team, ect.

5.5 In round two, the eight remaining teams are ranked 1-8. With 1st playing 8th, 2nd vs. 7th, etc.

5.6 In round three, the semifinals, the four remaining teams are seeded one through four. Seed one will play four and seed two plays three. The winners advance to the KHL Championship.

5.7 The highest-seeded team in all playoff games receives 1.5 additional points advantage.

Section 6 – Active Lineup

6.1 Each week teams must have 14 Active players named for the starting lineup. These are the players that score points every week.

6.2 Teams should be starting their best active lineup every week, blatant attempts to start a losing lineup will result in a loss of draft lottery chances.

6.3 Active rosters must always consist of:

POSITION No.

Forwards 9

Defensemen 4

Goaltenders 1

Section 7 – Press Box

7.1 Any player may be placed in the press box or bench.

7.2 Each team may have a maximum of 4 players.

7.3 Players in the press box do not count towards a team’s weekly point total.

7.4 Players who are actively rostered in the majority of Fantrax leagues should be starting in favour of those who are starting in under 10% of Fantrax leagues.

7.5 Failure to comply with 7.4 could result in the loss of draft lottery balls in the next draft lottery the team is involved in.

Section 8 – Prospects

8.1 Prospects that have played in 75 NHL regular season games (40 games for goaltenders) in their career must be signed to a KHL contract immediately and are not eligible for the prospect list from that point forward.

8.2 Prospects that have been activated and signed but are under the games played limit as stated in 8.1, may be returned to the prospect list.

8.3 Players can not be added to the prospect list, they can only be drafted during the prospect draft.

8.4 Salaries for unsigned prospects is $1.00

8.5 The maximum number of prospects is 20 per team.

Section 9 – Scoring

9.1 How players score fantasy points:

Skaters: Goaltenders:

Goals 1 point Wins 3 points

Assists 1 point Shootout Losses 1 point

Overtime Losses 1 point

Shutouts 1 point

9.2 Each week (Monday-Sunday) teams’ active players’ points are accumulated. The team with the greater amount of fantasy points is awarded a WIN with the team compiling the fewer fantasy points is given a LOSS. If each team has an equal amount of fantasy points then each team is given a TIE.

Section 10 – Standings

10.1 Teams are given 2 points for a WIN, 0 points for a LOSS, and 1 point for a TIE.

10.2 Teams are ranked in order of points.

10.3 If there is a tie in points between two or more teams the following tie-breakers apply:

• Most Wins

• Most Fantasy Points

• Head-To-Head Game Results

Section 11 – Player Additions

11.1 Player additions begin following the second period of the NHL season. Rosters are frozen until that time.

11.2 Players not owned by teams in the KHL may be added during the season. Players added must be deemed eligible by Fantrax and rostered by an NHL team.

11.3 Players claimed by two or more teams will go to the team lower in the waiver order (determined by reverse standings).

11.4 Player addition requests will be processed every Sunday at 11:20pm using the waiver order.

11.5 After 11.4, players may still be added up until the beginning of the first NHL game on Monday. After the 11.4 deadline, the player additions are first come, first served.

11.6 Teams retain their waiver order for one player request, then the next ranking team will get one player, ect.

11.7 Teams adding a player must drop a player to the free agent pool. (If necessary to maintain a legal roster) Players dropped are not eligible for pickup until the following week.

11.8 There is a roster freeze during the KHL playoffs when no players will be added by any teams. The freeze takes effect the Monday of the final regular season week.

11.9 Added players’ salaries are at the league minimum for the balance of the season.

11.10 After the season, added players who are in their age 29 season or younger, automatically agree to a contract extension of one season at a salary equal to the market value factor in rule 13.5, times the players recent point total. The status of the contract is dependent on their age after the extension.

11.11 Players in their age 30 season or older, are UFA’s and released at the end of the regular season.

Section 12 – Trades

12.1 Trades may include any combination of active players, prospects, and draft picks.

12.2 No trade will be allowed for draft picks more than 13 months away, or any deals that require a player to be given back at the end of the season.

12.3 Conditional picks based on performance or injuries ARE allowed but must include specific targets.

12.4 Traded players’ new team accepts the terms of all current contracts.

12.5 The trading deadline is SUNDAY of the 18th week at 9pm PST.

12.6 The league commissioner reserves the right to send any proposed trade agreements to a league-wide vote for veto purposes.

Section 13 – Player Contracts

13.1 All players must be under contract to be eligible for the starting lineup.

13.2 Owners may sign players to any term they wish. (Maximum 4 years.)

13.3 Player salaries are determined by their market value. The market value is calculated by the players point per game totals for the last four seasons.

13.4 The PPG value used in the calculation will be the greater number of: Total PPG over the last four seasons, the latest season PPG, and weighted PPG (40% of the most recent season, 30% two years ago, 20% three years ago, 10% four years ago)

13.5 The highest PPG value is then multiplied by 82 to determine a point total. The point total is then multiplied by the market value factor which is subject to a raise each season. For 2024-25 the market value factor was .256.

13.6 For players entering their last contract (age 28), a premium (+20%) market value factor is used. For 2024-25 the number was .308

13.7 Players activated from teams’ prospect list must sign a 2-year contract. Salaries for prospects are determined by their draft position when drafted into the KHL. The chart below indicates rookie salaries for this season.

Draft Pick Compensation

Pick 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018

Lottery #1 $ 20.68 $ 20.16 $ 19.39 $ 18.35 $ 16.80 $ 14.74 Min

#2 $ 19.65 $ 19.13 $ 18.35 $ 17.32 $ 15.77 $ 13.70 Min

#3 $ 18.61 $ 18.10 $ 17.32 $ 16.29 $ 14.74 $ 12.67 Min

#4 $ 17.58 $ 17.06 $ 16.29 $ 15.25 $ 13.70 $ 11.63 Min

#5 $ 16.55 $ 16.03 $ 15.25 $ 14.22 $ 12.67 $ 10.60 Min

#6 $ 15.51 $ 14.99 $ 14.22 $ 13.18 $ 11.63 $ 9.57 Min

#7 $ 14.48 $ 13.96 $ 13.18 $ 12.15 $ 10.60 $ 8.53 Min

#8 $ 13.44 $ 12.93 $ 12.15 $ 11.12 $ 9.57 $ 7.50 Min

#9 $ 12.41 $ 11.89 $ 11.12 $ 10.08 $ 8.53 $ 6.46 Min

#10 $ 11.37 $ 10.86 $ 10.08 $ 9.05 $ 7.50 $ 5.43 Min

#11-#18 $ 10.34 $ 9.82 $ 9.05 $ 8.01 $ 6.46 Min Min

#19-#26 $ 9.31 $ 8.79 $ 8.01 $ 6.98 $ 5.43 Min Min

2nd Round $ 7.24 $ 6.72 $ 5.95 Min Min Min Min

3rd Round Min Min Min Min Min Min Min

13.8 If a prospect is activated after January 1st, the remainder of that season does not count as a year toward his 2-year term. However, the owner will have to pay the prospects a pro-rated salary for the remainder of that season.

13.9 Prospects returned to the prospect list are still paid their full salary.

13.10 If a prospects’ entry-level contract has expired and the player is still eligible for the prospect list, the prospects’ salary can revert to $1.00.

Section 14 – Restricted Free Agents

14.1 Players become Restricted Free Agents on July 1st, the year their contract expires, provided they are age 28 or younger. (If the player is over 28 he becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent, see section 15)

14.2 Restricted free agents will automatically sign up to a four-year contract at market value. (see sec 13 for a description of market value)

14.3 Players will only sign a contract that takes them to age 28. Example: If the player is 25, he will automatically sign a three-year contract.

14.4 The age of a player is determined by his birth year, the references to age 28 means the calendar year in which the player turns 28.

Section 15 – Unrestricted Free Agents

15.1 Players become Unrestricted Free Agents on September 1st the year their contract expires, provided they are age 29 or older. Any player without a contract who is over the age of 28 is also a UFA.

15.2 Each team will be able to nominate one player to be auctioned for a maximum of 26 players.

15.3 The minimum annual salary for Unrestricted Free Agents is $6.00.

15.4 Unrestricted Free Agents are awarded to the team bidding the highest total package. (Years multiplied by Salary)

15.5 An Unrestricted Free Agent contract is 100% guaranteed. If the team owner cuts the player before the end of the term, all money owed to the player must be immediately paid in full. Such payments are subject to the salary cap.

15.6 Players signed are exempt from protection in the year of their signing.

Section 16 – Salaries

16.1 Minimum salary for active players is $5.13.

16.2 Players added during the season (Section 11) sign a 1-year contract at the league minimum.

16.3 The salary for all unsigned prospects is $1.00 per season.

16.4 Team payrolls are calculated 4 times a season. Oct. 1st, Dec. 1st, Feb. 1st, and Apr. 1st. All players on the teams' payroll on the above dates will be used for calculation purposes.

16.5 Players on a team payroll include all active players (14), Press Box Players (max 4), and all prospects.

16.6 Any team releasing a player with a guaranteed contract must pay all outstanding money to that player immediately. This payout is counted against the salary cap.

Section 17 – UFA Buyouts

17.1 Teams releasing a player with a guaranteed contract must pay all outstanding money to that player immediately. This payout is counted against the salary cap.

17.2 During a special off-season window, teams may elect to release a player and have the buyout amount prorated over the length of the original contract.

17.3 Once the season starts, teams will only have the option of paying the buyout in full and having the amount count against the cap in that season.

Section 18 – Waivers

18.1 Players with guaranteed contracts can be placed on waivers during the season to release the player without paying the buyout.

18.2 When there are multiple waiver claims, the player is awarded to the team lowest in the standings.

18.3 Waiver periods last four days. If there are no claims during waiver Phase I, teams may list players at any time on waiver Phase II.

18.4 Teams claiming players during Phase I assume the contract terms of the player.

18.5 Teams claiming players during Phase II receive the player with half the salary with the original term. The players’ former team takes a cap hit of half the salary prorated over the original term of the contract.

18.6 Teams may relist players on either Phase I or Phase II waivers at any time. The only restriction is that the player must have cleared Phase I waivers before being placed on Phase II waivers.

Section 19 – Prospect Draft

19.1 Order of selection: Reverse order of finish the previous season. (Non-Playoff teams draft first) The first overall pick is determined by a draft lottery (Section 24), in the first round the KHL champion picks 26th.

19.2 The draft consists of three rounds.

19.3 Player Eligibility – Any player aged at least 18 as of September 15 of the year of the draft, has not played 30 career NHL games and is not the property of a KHL team.

19.4 Players on your active roster may be drafted as prospects if they have been protected and are eligible to be drafted.

Section 20 – NHL Draft

20.1 Order of selection: Reverse order of finish the previous season.

20.2 NHL draft phase I consists of two rounds.

20.3 Player Eligibility – Any player who has played at least one NHL game is eligible.

20.4 After round two, team owners have the right to protect any players formerly on their teams that have not been selected in the NHL Draft Phase I.

20.5 Prospects who must be activated (see rule 8.1) will be activated after NHL Draft Phase I.

20.6 Players drafted without contracts will sign for two seasons at $6.16 per season for first-round picks and $5.64 per season for second-round picks.

Section 21 – NHL Draft Phase II

21.1 Same order as NHL Draft Phase I. Teams will select as many players as necessary to fill their 14 active roster spots. (9 F, 4 D, 1 G) and optionally their four press box positions. Picks in Phase II are non-transferable. Players picked in phase II are signed for two years at $5.07.

Section 22 – Protected Lists

22.1 Teams must announce their protected list for the NHL Draft by the date set out in the calendar of events.

22.2 Teams who made the playoffs the previous season may protect 9 active players. Non-Playoff teams may protect 10 active players.

22.3 Prospects who played in less than 100 NHL games before the previous season started are exempt.

22.4 All players signed in the UFA auction are exempt in that season from the protected lists as the UFA auction will occur after the protected list deadline.

Section 23 – Salary Cap

23.1 Teams’ total payroll is not to exceed $256.49 (2024-25 season) at any time during the season. This includes all payments made to all players and includes buyout payments.

23.2 Teams’ total payroll cannot fall below 68% of the salary cap. $174.41 for 2024-25.

23.3 Teams’ salaries are calculated 4 times during the season; October 1st, December 1st, February 1st and April 1st.

23.4 All players currently on that teams roster as of these dates will be considered in the calculation. The totals from these 4 periods are added to determine the total payroll.

23.5 Any UFA buyouts are added to the calculation.

23.6 At no time during the season can a teams’ total payroll exceed the salary cap. If a transaction occurs that puts a team over the cap that transaction will not be allowed. It is permissible to exceed the cap prior to the season commencing.

23.7 The salary cap will increase by a random amount as determined by the results of the pick 2 lottery on the day the Stanley Cup is awarded: http://www.wclc.com/winning-numbers/pick-games-extra.htm

23.8 The two digits from the above lottery will be added to 0.5%. Ex. If the numbers are 4 + 5, then the increase will be 0.95% (0.50+0.45)

23.9 This random number will apply to increases in the salary cap, minimum salary, RFA multipliers, and the draft pick salary chart.

Section 24 – Draft Lottery

24.1 The KHL draft lottery takes place during the off-season.

24.2 Only the ten non-playoff teams are eligible for the lottery. The first ten picks in the draft will be determined and the results do not affect subsequent rounds.

24.3 The lottery results will be determined by the website https://www.draftpicklottery.com/

24.4 The following chart is used to determine the winner of the KHL lottery:

Finish Balls Odds 1st pick

26th 10 18%

25th 9 16%

24th 8 15%

23rd 7 13%

22nd 6 11%

21st 5 9%

20th 4 7%

19th 3 5%

18th 2 4%

17th 1 2%

Section 25 – Prize Money

25.1 The total amount of prize money is dependent upon the total income of the KHL through player salaries, minus league expenses.

25.2 Prize money less than $175 will be applied as a credit in the following season unless the owner does not wish to continue in the league.

25.3 REGULAR SEASON

Achievement Prize Money

1st Place 9.00%

2nd Place 7.50%

3rd Place 6.25%

4th Place 5.25%

5th Place 4.50%

6th Place 4.00%

7th Place 3.50%

8th Place 3.00%

9th-12th Place 1.00%

13th-16th Place 0.50%

25.4 PLAYOFFS

Achievement Prize Money

Stanley Cup Champion 5%

Playoff Win Round 3 4%

Playoff Win Round 2 3.5%

Playoff Win Round 1 3%

Section 26 – League Fees

26.1 Owners must pay the total salaries of all their players as computed using the methods described in Section 23.

26.2 Before each season owners will be required to pay $175 by May 1st, to keep their team for the following season. If this payment is missed, the owner will have until September 1st to pay the $175, along with a $25 fine. After September 1st, the KHL will begin the search for a new owner.

26.3 Rosters will be frozen until payments are made.

26.4 After the final salary calculation on April 1st and combined with the total prize money won, a final balance will be established. This payment along with the $175 toward the following season is expected by May 1st.

26.5 Email money transfer to bblatchf@gmail.com is the preferred payment method, PayPal is also accepted.

Section 27 – Off-season

27.1 Off-season events are done in this order:

• UFA Auction

• Protected list (newly signed UFA’s are exempt)

• Prospect Draft

• NHL Draft – Phase 1

• Return of players not protected

• NHL Draft Phase 2

27.2 27.2 Once the protected lists are in, a trade restriction is in place until the end of the NHL Draft Phase 2. Any trade during this period must include the same number of protected players from each team.

27.3 Unprotected players undrafted in NHL draft phase 1, who have FA contracts must be accepted back to their teams or bought out before NHL draft phase 2.

27.4 After the NHL draft phase 2, there is a period of add drops, but any players added must have played at least one NHL game.