Player tampering was a key topic at the recent NHL General Managers meeting, where Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly addressed GMs about the league’s rules on the issue. The NHL has grown concerned about reports of teams negotiating with players before the official start of free agency on July 1.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, who talked to Gino Reda on TSN's "Insider Trading", Daly said he was “uncomfortable” with how many deals seemed to be arranged before the free agency start date.
"Yeah, it was on the agenda, and it was part of Bill Daly's address to GMs," LeBrun said. "The deputy commissioner had a number of items to go over, but that was one of them, and in asking Bill Daly about it after the meeting today."
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"Gino, what Bill Daly said is that he was uncomfortable to use his words about some of the reports that he saw last year leading into July 1. As far as deals that seem to be done before July 1. You know, obviously many of us reporting on those deals," LeBrun added.
League Player tampering rules are clear: teams cannot talk to players under contract with another team until noon ET on July 1. There are exceptions though, a player’s team can permit discussions before July 1. This can allow the current team to get something in return, like a draft pick, if the player decides to move. A player’s agent can also ask for this permission to explore options for their client.
Pierre LeBrun talks about legal ways to bypass player tampering rule
Bill Daly reminded GMs that penalties for player tampering can be severe. Consequences can include fines or losing draft picks, with the league deciding on a case-by-case basis.
"At the end of the day, this is probably also a reminder that there are ways around all this." LeBrun said. "I mean, agents can ask teams for permission to talk to other teams for their pending UFAs. Teams can themselves give permission to their pending UFAs to speak to other teams because they may want to get draft pick out of it before July 1.
But the point is, there are mechanisms in place to get around some of this, but certainly sounded like a stern warning from Bill Daly to GMs today when it comes to July 1," LeBrun added.
While there are legal ways to communicate before July 1, Daly’s comments suggest that the league is taking player tampering seriously. The NHL wants to avoid early deals that break the rules.
