The Red Wings could lose their exclusive signing rights to five prospects in 2022

When a National Hockey League team drafts a player, their exclusive signing rights seldom remain with that same team in perpetuity. In most cases, teams have two years to sign a Canadian Hockey League prospect after they draft them. Prospects selected from organizations in Sweden, Finland, Czechia, and most other European countries remain exclusively tied to their drafting team for four years. Collegiate prospects cannot become unrestricted free agents until their NCAA eligibility expires. Finally, there are the prospects selected from Russia, whose rights remain tied to their drafting team in perpetuity due to the lack of a formal transfer agreement between the NHL and the Kontinental Hockey League. Unless inked to entry-level contracts, five Detroit Red Wings prospects will see their exclusive NHL post-draft signing drafts expire in 2022. The Red Wings will need to make decisions about whether they should keep these players in their system or move on. With only 50 contract spots available at any given time