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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIn the NHL’s formal rules, a “Non-Roster Player” is a player temporarily unavailable for a reason other than injury, illness or disability, with the designation requiring approval by the Commissioner. While it applies, the player does not count against the club’s Active Roster limit, and the team may use a replacement. It does not, by itself, mean the player was injured, waived or released.
What the NHL’s formal term means
Article 16.12(a) of the NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement defines the status. It covers a player who cannot play for a reason other than injury, illness or disability; the CBA gives the birth of a child and attending a funeral as examples. The Commissioner must approve the designation. The NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement sets out the rule in Article 16.12(a>.
This is a temporary designation for a signed player who is unavailable, not a general label for anyone missing from a lineup or roster list.
What happens to the roster spot and salary accounting
While the designation is in effect, the player does not count toward the club’s Active Roster limit, and the club may replace that player. The CBA also says the designated player’s and replacement’s Player Salary and Bonuses remain included in the specified Actual Club Salary, Averaged Club Salary and Players’ Share calculations. The designation therefore changes the active-roster count; it does not simply erase the player from the salary calculations named in the agreement.
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How it differs from other NHL roster labels
| Label | What it means | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Roster Player, Article 16.12 | Commissioner-approved unavailability for a reason other than injury, illness or disability; the player is excluded from the Active Roster count while designated, and the club may use a replacement. | It does not establish that the player is injured, waived, released or permanently off the team. |
| “Injured and/or Non-Roster” | A grouped heading NHL roster materials have used to present players under either or both labels. The NHL’s 2025–26 opening-day roster announcement is an example. | The combined heading alone does not tell you which status applies to an individual player. |
| Injured Reserve (IR) | A separate roster mechanism. NHL Hockey Operations guidance says players on IR do not count against the regular-season 23-player limit. NHL Hockey Operations Guidelines explain that limit. | IR and the Article 16.12 Non-Roster Player designation are not interchangeable. |
| Professional tryout contract (PTO) | A training-camp tryout for an unsigned player seeking to earn an NHL contract. NHL.com’s September 17, 2026 camp PTO report describes players being signed or released after camp. | A PTO is not automatically an Article 16.12 designation. |
How the roster limit fits in
The regular-season playing-roster maximum is generally 23 players from the start of the regular season through the trade deadline, according to NHL Hockey Operations guidance. That limit is separate from the formal Non-Roster Player designation. The same guidance says IR players do not count toward the 23-player limit; that IR rule should not be mistaken for Article 16.12.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read a roster listing
- If a source says “Non-Roster Player” and identifies Article 16.12, it describes the formal designation, subject to Commissioner approval.
- If it says “Injured and/or Non-Roster,” treat that as a grouped display category unless the source separately clarifies the player’s status.
- If it says PTO during training camp, the player is trying out while unsigned; check dated transaction reporting for whether the player later signed or was released.
Roster counts and player labels are date-specific. For context, NHL Public Relations reported 723 players on official opening-day rosters for the 2026–27 season on September 29, 2026; that figure is an opening-day snapshot, not a count of Non-Roster Players. NHL Public Relations’ 2026–27 opening-day roster release gives the dated figure.
The NHL’s CBA page identifies a 2025 Memorandum of Understanding. For legal or transaction-specific questions, consult the current consolidated CBA and MOU text as well as the player’s dated team announcement; a grouped roster label alone cannot settle the player’s exact status.
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