Bettman Takes Shot at NHL No-Trade Clauses: Expect the League to Make Changes

“It’s something we’re going to keep an eye on, but I think we’ve gotten past the way no-trade clauses were originally intended.” Those were comments from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who joined Sportsnet to talk about how out of hand things have gotten in a league where players consistently abuse no-trade protection to demand trades and dictate where they land.

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Bettman noted that the original reason no-trade clauses were introduced was that the NHLPA wanted a way to protect players who signed long-term deals and took team-friendly deals to stay in one particular place. GMs were using the leverage they had to get better financial deals, and the players needed a way to ensure that, if they accepted lesser terms, they could invoke their right to stay where they took the discount.

What no-trade clauses were not supposed to do was give the player who changed their mind the power to demand a trade and then force a team to trade the player to a limited list of destinations.

Bettman said he doesn’t think it’s good for the league, for the player, or for the fans who watch. It creates a scenario where deals are harder to make, and players have flipped the script, potentially gaining too much power while they become difficult in their negotiations.

Bettman did admit that one troubling summer doesn’t push the panic button for the NHL, but if the trend continues, it will be something the league talks to the Players’ Association about.

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