NHL favors no-trade clauses far more than other North American leagues
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 27, 2026, 12:25 PM
Last updated Jun 27, 2026
The NHL has approximately 245 no-trade and no-move clauses compared to significantly fewer in other major North American sports leagues. Factors contributing to this trend include lower average NHL salaries, a culture emphasizing loyalty, and a salary cap that limits salary flexibility. As a result, teams often offer clauses to secure player commitment while providing contractual security. The situation reflects a distinct contrast to the NFL, NBA, and MLB, where such clauses are rare and alternative protections exist for players.
- •NHL features 245 no-trade clauses versus 8 in the NFL, 2 in the NBA, and 35 in MLB.
- •Lower salaries in the NHL lead players to seek contract security over higher pay.
- •Hockey culture places high value on loyalty between franchises and players.
- •The NHL's salary cap encourages the use of no-move clauses as negotiating tools.
- •Alternative protections in other leagues reduce the need for similar clauses.
- 12:25 PMYahoo Sports — The NHL's Obsession With No-Trade Clauses: Why Hockey Is The Outlier In North American Sports
"No-trade and no-move clauses have become so commonplace in the NHL that many fans assume they are simply part of the business of sports. They aren’t.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NHL•Sep 10, 2026, 3:12 AMBefore he was a TV Star, Melrose was a Red Wings defenseman
Hockey•Sep 10, 2026, 3:08 AMBeamish following in family footsteps with Otters
NHL•Sep 10, 2026, 2:55 AMOilers’ Connor McDavid Reveals True Thoughts Of Playing In Montreal
Hockey•Sep 10, 2026, 2:48 AMFormer Michigan hockey players sue, alleging years of sexualized hazing
AHL•Sep 10, 2026, 2:38 AMFormer Calgary Flames Forward Terminates KHL Contract
HockeyHockey•Sep 10, 2026, 2:34 AMFryklund, Armstrong forecast Beavers' strength in returners at WCHA Media Day