Fan Proposes Extreme Solution to NHL’s Growing No-Trade Clause Problem

The NHL is wondering whether it has a problem with no-trade clauses and the growing trend of players using them to dictate where and when they play. First introduced to protect players who sign long-term deals at discount prices, the clause prevents an NHL franchise from taking advantage of the savings and then trading the player without his consent.

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However, these same clauses have become a tool for players to leverage teams into getting what they want, and they’re less about protection than ever. Brady Tkachuk worked his way to Florida to play with his brother. Dylan Larkin is back with the Red Wings, but he’s waiting for a trade and has a limited number of teams he’ll join. Connor Hellebuyck is actually sitting out, losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

There are risks on both sides, but NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently said in an interview that the league is watching it. It’s not worth panicking over yet, but if this summer’s trend continues, the league might approach the NHLPA and have a chat. “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.” 

Bettman said he doesn’t think it’s good for the league, for the player, or for the fans who watch. 

One Fan Came Up with An Extreme Solution

In a comments thread on a post by The Hockey News, a fan came up with his/her own interesting solution to the problem. It’s extreme, but one has to wonder if it would eliminate the issue.

The suggestion goes as follows:

1. All trade requests/demands must be made in writing.
2. Clubs shall not accept, receive, nor act upon in any way, any informal or verbal trade request. Any player making such a request shall be suspended without pay for 21 games for the first such offence, 1 year for a second, and permanently for a third. The player will also be fined a pro-rated portion of any signing bonus. Clubs must report all such requests to the league office for punishment. Any club failing to do so will lose its next 3 first-round draft selections and be fined $10 million for a first offence, its franchise agreement permanently revoked for a second.
3. Upon a trade request, any NTC/NMC that prevents a contract being traded to 7 or more clubs becomes a 6-club NTC and the player must submit an updated non-conflicting list with the request. There is no guarantee that the player w

Essentially, this fan is saying trade request must be formally put in writing and failure to do so results in serious consequences. The player and his agent are suspended if procedures aren’t followed, and teams are punished if the clubs don’t report trade requests. This fan even suggested losing the right to be an NHL franchise. T

This Would Never Happen

The NHL and NHLPA would never allow this level of punishment for violations of a clause they don’t yet deem as a real concern. Even if they did, we’d be talking about fines and the potential loss of draft picks.

It does raise an interesting debate. If the NHL decides this is a problem worth addressing, how far are they willing to go to nip the issue in the bud?

Next: Hellebuyck’s Holdout Now Has a Price Tag, and Jets Fans Are Tracking It