The NHL has rejected the free-agent contract the Seattle Kraken signed with goaltender Philipp Grubauer, a source confirmed on Sunday.

Grubauer, an unrestricted free agent from the Colorado Avalanche, signed a six-year, $35.4 million deal with the expansion team on Wednesday, with an average annual value of $5.9 million against the salary cap.

The contract was rejected by the NHL's central registry because it violated the league's requirements for a front-loaded contract.