Bettman Says No-Trade Clauses Are Being Used Beyond Their Original Purpose
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said no-trade clauses were created to let players commit long-term to a place they wanted to stay, not to allow them to demand trades and choose destinations. He called the current trend harmful to players, teams, and fans, and indicated the league could discuss the issue with the NHLPA. Bettman pointed to recent player movement, including Brady Tkachuk's path to Florida, as an example.
Bettman made remarks Thursday on Sportsnet’s The FAN Hockey Show. He argued that trade protection was meant for players signing long-term deals in preferred cities, sometimes accepting less money, not for requesting moves and choosing destinations. He said the pattern hurts players, clubs, and fans.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in September he did not expect trade requests to be handled before the next collective bargaining agreement in 2030. The current CBA began in September without altering trade clauses. Examples cited include Brady Tkachuk to Florida, Dylan Larkin’s Detroit request with a four-team list, and Connor Hellebuyck’s Jets standoff.
The debate may affect players, teams, fans, and league-union relations. If trade protection is revisited, players could face narrower leverage, while clubs may gain stability and fans may see fewer abrupt star exits. Yet changes would likely require bargaining and may not arrive soon, given the CBA timeline. The outcome could shape how supporters connect to rosters and how markets, including Canadian clubs, are perceived.