NHL commissioner Gary Bettman believes that no-trade clauses are no longer being used as "originally intended" by players who force moves to specific teams after requesting a trade.
"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," said Bettman in an interview with Sportsnet 590 in Toronto on Thursday.
Bettman said that trade protection was originally put in place to protect players from teams trading them after signing a long-term contract.
"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," said Bettman.
Several high-profile NHL players who recently sought a change in scenery have used their no-movement or no-trade clauses to control their next destinations:
The Ottawa Senators said that captain Brady Tkachuk used his no-movement clause to force a trade to the Florida Panthers last summer, where his brother Matthew plays.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski reportedly told the team he wouldn't sign a new contract when his deal is up in 2028 and then blocked a trade to the Dallas Stars.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin asked for a trade but narrowed the field of trade partners to just three teams.
Winnipeg Jets star goalie Connor Hellebuyck also has a no-movement clause and was suspended by the team after failing to show up to training camp after requesting a trade.
"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," said Bettman. "If this becomes a problem -- I don't think one offseason a problem makes -- but if it becomes a problem, it's something we are going to have to discuss with the players' association."
The way no-trade clauses have been used has "flipped" in recent years, according to one player agent speaking to ESPN, as part of an overall player empowerment movement in the NHL.
"The players are taking it into their own hands," the agent said. "I don't exactly know when it changed, but it's a copycat league. And if you see somebody use it to that effect, and you have a player that's in that situation, you almost feel obligated to bring this idea to the table with them if they're unhappy with where they're at. Then it starts to become ubiquitous for the guys that have those clauses."
The NHL and NHLPA just saw their latest collective bargaining agreement kick in last month, and it runs until Sept. 15, 2030. Bettman said the league will be monitoring how trade protection is being utilized, going forward.
"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. 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," he said.
Others believe the responsibility for how these clauses are used ultimately falls on the teams and not the players.
"This is the biggest nonissue in the NHL," said player agent Allan Walsh in a recent tweet. "No one forces teams to give out no-move and no-trade clauses. They are freely negotiated as part of NHL contracts."