NHL defines a veteran, demands 8 must play in preseason games

The NHL has defined an NHL veteran as a player who has played 30 or more NHL games in his previous season. 

During each preseason game, each team has to compile a list of veterans and dress eight for every game. This new change must be instituted to draw larger crowds to preseason games.

The NHL indicates for the purposes of exhibition games a veteran constitutes for 30 NHL games played, a first round draft choice of that year's draft, or any player with over 100 NHL games under their belt.

For the purposes of exhibition alone this is the definition of an NHL veteran, which would not extend into the regular season.