Like any massive professional sports league, the NHL has its issues. But commissioner Gary Bettman took aim at one in particular: No-trade clauses.
During an interview on Toronto radio on Thursday, the NHL’s head honcho implied that these contract clauses are getting out of hand and aren’t being used as “originally intended.”
“As I look at what’s happening now, I don’t think that’s a good thing. I don’t think it’s good for the player, the club or the fans’ connection to the game,” Bettman said during an interview on Sportsnet 590.
Bettman, who has been NHL commissioner for more than 33 years, said that NTCs originally were used to protect players from being traded after signing a long-term contract, but are now being used as leverage against the clubs.
“Maybe you’re giving a hometown discount and you wanted to make sure you can be where you wanted to be, and where you’re signing up to be,” Bettman said.
“This notion now, where you can select where you want to go to and you can demand a trade, that was never the original intention,” Bettman said. “If this becomes a problem — I don’t think one off-season a problem makes — but if it becomes a problem, it’s something we are going to have to discuss with the players’ association.”
Which players have caused problems for teams?
Bettman’s comments come at a time when several high-profile players – including several American-born stars playing on Canadian teams – have attempted to force their way to specific teams after asking for a trade.
Earlier this summer, Ottawa traded captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida to play with his brother, Matthew, after the winger reportedly turned down a trade to St. Louis – his hometown.
Winnipeg Jets and American Olympic gold-medal hero Connor Hellebuyck has been suspended by the team after the superstar goalie requested a trade in the off-season and then failed to show up for training camp.
Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin also has asked for a trade, but has a list of just three destinations to where he’d accept a move.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have several players with NTCs — including Morgan Rielly, who was the subject of trade rumours throughout the summer.
The Leafs also had a potential blockbuster trade with the Carolina Hurricanes torpedoed in early 2025, when Mitch Marner shut down a potential move, only to leave Toronto for Vegas in the summer.
There are reportedly an estimated 245 NHL players who have at least a limited no-trade clause in their contract – vastly outpacing any other North American professional league.
In MLB, there are 35 players with a no-trade clause, eight in the NFL and just two in the NBA.
What do players think?
Florida Panthers star Brad Marchand was one of the first players to respond to Bettman’s comments, calling the system “broken.”
“This goes both ways,” he commented on an Instagram clip of Bettman’s interview. “I guess it’s OK if a team signs you to a long-term deal and wants to trade you, but not if you want out during that term. Broken system.”
Bettman said that the league would “keep an eye” on the situation, though it’s unlikely that anything can be done until the NHL and NHLPA’s current collective bargaining agreement comes up for renewal in 2030.
“While it might be good for a player in a particular case — although based on what we’re witnessing now, I’m not sure it’s good for the player either — we have to look at what’s good for the game, the players overall and the league,” he said.
“It’s something we’re going to keep an eye on. I think we’ve gotten past the way no-trade clauses were originally intended.”