Today, TSN Sports published a piece that simply suggests how crazy this 2019-20 NHL season really is. Hockey is complex in the first place, with trades and decisions having clauses/riders on them that are both team and player performance-based. And, although complex, because these clauses are based upon the status of the performance at the end of the season, it’s usually pretty easy to tell if a clause in a contract has been met or not.
But this one’s interesting and depends upon how one defines “things.” Here’s the story, and the confusion.
Related: Two Canucks Prospects Get AHL All-Star Recognition: Reid Boucher & Brogan Rafferty
Did the Trade that Happened Really Happen?
Although the Vancouver Canucks traded their first-round pick away during the summer of 2019, they still own that first-round pick – at least for the time being. The confusion came when, as part of the “Return to Play” memo the NHL sent out to clubs last week, the league made a decision about conditional trades impacted by playoff participation.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun’s “inside sources” confirmed to him that, in the case of the Canucks trade last summer, a playoff berth in the 2019-20 season automatically transfers the Canucks first-round pick to the New Jersey Devils. But what is a “playoff berth?”
The confusion happened when the NHL made the official the 24-team format and whether participation in that format counted as “making the playoffs.” In fact, as the NHL ruled, being in the group of 24 teams to compete in the scheduled play-in tournament did not count as making the playoffs. In other words, although the teams were competing, it didn’t mean they had “clinched a playoff spot.” They had only “clinched” a play-in spot.
Ok, this is Confusing, But So What?
Here’s where it might matter to the Vancouver Canucks. The team traded its first-round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning last June for J.T. Miller. And, as Canucks fans know, Miller came in and became a valuable member of the team and was a difference-maker in the Canucks’ push to the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season.
The Lightning then turned around and traded that former-Canucks draft choice to New Jersey before the Feb. 24 trade deadline for Blake Coleman. But the condition of that trade was that, specifically, if the Canucks made the playoffs this season the pick would be for the 2020 draft. If the Canucks missed the playoffs, the Devils would instead get Vancouver’s 2021 draft pick – and that pick would an unprotected draft pick. [Given the Canucks’ projected increased success over the next few seasons as the team gets better and better, the 2021 draft choice probably won’t be a really early choice.]
The NHL’s Decision Rests on the Definition of Making the Playoffs
One reason the first round is called the play-ins is that calling them the playoffs raises all sorts of issues about these kinds of trade clauses. Here’s the NHL’s definition of the proposed 24-team format, which was released in a memo from the NHL’s head office:
“More specifically, for Trade condition purposes, a Club will not be deemed to have qualified for the Playoffs unless or until they have progressed into the Round of 16, and ‘Playoff Games/Rounds’ will only include the games/rounds played in the Round of 16 or later.”
The NHL’s memo added, “We believe this interpretation will best reflect the intentions of the parties at the time of the Trade.”
Where Does the Decision Put the Canucks?
So, as it stands, the Canucks have to win their play-in round against the Minnesota Wild this summer to be defined as being “in the playoffs.” If the Canucks lose, they won’t make the playoffs, because the play-ins don’t count as the playoffs.
And, if the Cancuks make the playoffs, their first-round pick officially transfers to New Jersey. If the team loses the play-in series against the Wild, the Canucks officially miss the playoffs and keep the pick they traded away. On the other hand, if the Canucks beat the Wild they will have made the playoffs, and the Devils would get Vancouver’s 2021 unprotected first-round selection – probably not a high choice (my guess).
Now, here’s the possible cherry on top. If the Canucks lose, this draft pick that the team already traded away would turn out to be a draft lottery pick, which means the Canucks stand a decent chance of getting lucky and turning over a really high draft choice.
As it happens, the NHL has tried to concoct a plan so that the teams with the most need – that is, the teams with the poorest records for the 2019-20 season – would rightfully have the best chances to get the highest draft choices in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Still, luck is luck, and luck could become a lady for the Canucks during the Draft Lottery.
Related: Remembering Ryan Miller’s Career with the Vancouver Canucks
Where We Stand Right Now
In summary, the Canucks’ first-round pick transfers to the Devils if the Canucks make playoffs. That means the team still owns the first-round pick they traded away last year for Miller – at least for the time being. If the team beats the Wild in the five-game play-in tournament, it then makes the playoffs. If that happens, the draft pick transfers to the Devils.
However, if the Canucks get “lucky” and lose to the Wild (I’m only kidding here – right. Surely the team wants a crack at the Stanley Cup?), the team keeps its draft choice and enters the Draft Lottery – where it might get lucky and garner a quite high draft choice in the 2020 Draft.
Now, that’s clear as a bell – right?
