When are European players ready to play in NHL?

[MB19]

I've drafted a couple of European players. In real life, these players (e.g. Vladimir Konstantinov) were not eligible to play in NHL until several years after they were drafted. How will I know when I can roster these players? Will it just follow the real life historical timeline?

Thanks

[Adam B]

Yes.

[JeffR]

1989 is the first year they'll be available, unless they actually joined the NHL earlier (e.g. the various Czech defectors in the 80's.)

[MB19]

What about someone like V. Konstantinov, who is draft eligible in 1985, but didn't enter the NHL (in real life) until 1991? Can he be NHL rostered in 1989?

[synjin]

Is there a randomness to it? Because I'm playing a historical game and Peter Stastny is still stuck in Slovakia in 1982-83. He came over to play for the the Nordiques in the 1980-81 season.

Originally Posted by JeffR

1989 is the first year they'll be available, unless they actually joined the NHL earlier (e.g. the various Czech defectors in the 80's.)