Some big names have asked to be traded this offseason, but are wanting to control where they go with their no-trade/no-movement clauses. This will be a CBA issue next go around
Sportsnet 590 The FAN: Elliotte Friedman last week on no-trade and no-movement clauses, and how they will be an issue for the next CBA.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Nick Kypreos: “Do you think there’s a few GMs rooting for Stevie Yzerman to kind of hold real strong here.”
Freidman: “Yes.”
Kypreos: “Just to send a message to other teams’ players who think that there’s they’re just one phone call away from their agent of picking their spot, regardless if they have two years, four years, or six years on their contract?”
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Friedman: “So, Nick, I think that this is going to be.. I think we’ve now hit on, and we just had a CBA done, so you don’t have to have another new one for four or five years. But I think we’ve just hit on the number one, one of the number one issues that will be the next CBA in conversations.
Now, I did have one owner tell me that he knows of at least one team that spoke, because basically the way it works is before every CBA negotiation, Bettman meets meets with every team, and he says, ‘I want to know what’s important to you.’ And he says, ‘I can’t guarantee that it’ll happen, I can’t guarantee it’ll be a front burner, but I want to know what’s important to you.’
And this owner told me there was at least one team that went to Bettman and said we need to have these no-trade clauses dealt with. And Bettman, from what this guy told me, Bettman said, ‘This is a peacetime CBA, we want to get it done, everybody’s making a lot of money, and we’re not picking the fight on this one, this time.’
I can’t see how this isn’t going to be an issue next time. As a matter of fact, Nick, one of the things I was told was, when Connor Hellebuck asked for a trade from the Jets, the Jets went to him and they said, ‘Well, you have to waive your no-trade now.’ And Hellebuyck’s like, ‘I’m not doing that,’ and the Jets were kind of like, ‘Well, you can’t have it both ways.’
Now I think, I think Hellebuyck has been more flexible than some of these other teams. I understand, like for example, like he, if they would have had a deal with Buffalo (at the Draft), and I think they’re still talking about it, he would go. I don’t know too many other people who are saying they’d go to Buffalo right now, but I’ve been told that Hellebuyck would waive for them if they can get a deal done. I think he’s been more flexible.
But I do think that this is, you know, one of the things that we’re going to have talk about, they, maybe you get to still have a no-trade clause or a no-move clause, but I think you’re going to see teams fight back for, if players ask for a trade, well, there’s got to be consequences to that. Do they have to pay signing bonus money back? I can’t ever see that happening, but I’m just throwing stuff out there.
But one of the things I’m wondering about Nick is, and Justin, is do we get a situation where teams fight to say, you have a no-trade clause and you ask for one, there must be something in writing about how much more flexible you have to be?
Now, all of this is a negotiation, and who knows where we go between then and now, but I do think it’s going to be a thing.
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Now, the one thing I would like to say, guys, is I heard people say, well, Steve Staois should have held harder with Keith Tkachuk or Matthew, Brady Tkachuk. I think that’s easier said than done. That was about a day away from getting out. If that had gotten out, I think it’s easy for other people to say, ‘Oh, you should have held on.’ When you’re in that seat and your market’s going bananas, it’s hard sometimes to do it.
But Yzerman is a bit unique, and I don’t say that in any negative way. I do think there are teams hoping that he takes a hard line here. Although I do think in the end, Larkin will get dealt.”
Allan Walsh: “This is the biggest non-issue in the NHL. No one forces teams to give out No Move and No Trade Clauses. They are freely negotiated as part of NHL contracts.”
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