Days after Shane Wright is granted a CHL exemption another player is refused the same thing

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Josh Tupper
September 13, 2023 (6:48 PM)

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Last week, news surfaced that the Seattle Kraken had sought a special exemption from the CHL that would allow top prospect Shane Wright to play in the AHL instead of returning to Windsor of the OHL.

It would appear the Kraken were granted this exemption according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. After the news it now appears another team and their top prospect are seeking an exemption, but this time with different results.

According to Lance Lysowski, the Buffalo Sabres applied for the same exemption for Matthew Savoie, but the Sabres are unlikely to receive the exemption This will mean that Savoie will have to return to the WHL's Wenatchee Wild if he doesn't make the Buffalo Sabres' roster this season.

"A source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Buffalo News on Wednesday morning that the Sabres have not received an official ruling from the Canadian Hockey League after they petitioned for an exemption that would allow Savoie to play with the AHL's Rochester Americans if he doesn't make Buffalo's NHL roster during training camp." Lysowski said.

The agreement between the league states that National Hockey League teams must return players that are signed to entry-level contracts to their respective team in the CHL if they have not completed four seasons in the CHL or if they aren't 20-years-old as of September 15th. In Savoie's case, he doesn't turn 20 until January 1st.

Savoie dominated the WHL last season with the Winnipeg Ice, who have since relocated to Wenatchee, Washington.

In 62 games he put up 95 points (38 goals, 57 assists), 26 penalty minutes and was a plus-57. He then recorded 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 19 playoff games.