The NHLPA isn't taking commissioner Gary Bettman's recent comments about no-movement clauses lightly.
Bettman said Thursday that the use of NMCs has gone beyond the clause's "original intention," prompting a firm rebuttal from the players' union.
"First, we think the no-trade, no-move clause is being used as originally intended," NHLPA assistant executive director Ron Hainsey told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "It's a player's right to negotiate salary, salary structure, term, as well as a no-move or no-trade with their club if they're able to do so and bargain in good faith."
Hainsey added: "The beginning of this conversation about no-move and no-trade clauses, we do take as an attack on players' CBA-negotiated rights. And we will treat it as such."
Several NHL players have recently leveraged their NMCs to request trades and attempt to dictate where they want to go. Notably, Brady Tkachuk engineered a trade from the Ottawa Senators to the Florida Panthers this past offseason. Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck have also both requested trades despite both having multiple years left on their contracts.
Larkin reportedly gave the Red Wings an initial list of four teams he'd accept a trade to. Hellebuyck is apparently more flexible, but reports indicate he wants to play for a contender and would prefer an American-based team.
Bettman added, "If this becomes a problem, it's something we're going to have to discuss with the players' association."
However, based on Hainsey's comments, it could be a short discussion.
"From our point of view, there's no valid reason to even be having this discussion," Hainsey said. "Again, we take it as the beginning of an attack on players' rights."
