The NHL Entry Draft is an event in which the teams of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) systematically select the rights to available amateur players who meet the requirements to play professional hockey in the NHL . The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements ( North American players 18 â `` 20 years old and Europeans of all ages entering league for the 1st time , all others enter league as unrestricted free agents ) . The NHL Entry Draft is held once every year , generally within two to three months after the conclusion of the previous season .