ESPN’s Craig Custance recently conducted a poll of several top NHL player agents to determine which teams are on their clients’ no-trade lists. Unsurprisingly, four of the top five were Canadian teams.
The Edmonton Oilers topped the list, followed by the Winnipeg Jets. The Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs tied for fourth/fifth. The only American team on the list was the Buffalo Sabres.
Several reasons were cited for why those Canadian teams topped the list. Lousy climate (especially in winter), city amenities and media pressure were significant factors. Perhaps the most significant factor was the losing records of those teams.
One agent told Custance “winning helps,” suggesting the Pittsburgh Penguins would be on this list if it had been drawn up ten years ago.
Losing records of Canadian teams like the Leafs hurts their efforts to improve their rosters via trades.
A losing record trumps concerns over weather, amenities and media spotlight. Over ten years ago, the Maple Leafs wouldn’t be on this list. Between 1998 to 2004, the Leafs were among the NHL’s better teams and had little difficulty attracting talent via trades or free agency. Notables like Ron Francis, Brian Leetch, Phil Housley, Owen Nolan, Glen Wesley and Bryan McCabe were traded to the Leafs.
It should be noted free agents also found Toronto a desirable destination during that period, as Curtis Joseph, Alexander Mogilny, Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk and Ed Belfour signed with the Leafs.
Granted, most of those players dealt to Toronto back then lacked no-trade clauses, and the Leafs didn’t have a pesky salary cap to worry about. The climate was just as cold in the winter and the media pressure just as intense back then, but the Leafs were a good team and an enticing trade and free agent destination.
Most NHL players will accept bad weather, market concerns and media pressure if they can play for a potential Stanley Cup contender, as Custance noted when he cited the Detroit Red Wings’ winning legacy. The same is undoubtedly true for the Penguins, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.
The problem for Canadian teams over the past decade is most of them haven’t even come close to championship contention for a sustained period. Most haven’t even been legitimate playoff contenders.
Since 2005-06, the Maple Leafs and Oilers each made the playoffs only once. The Jets look promising this season, but since relocating from Atlanta in 2011 they’ve yet to reach the postseaon. Prior to this season, the Flames missed the playoffs five straight years. The Senators used to be a small-market powerhouse, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2007. Since then, they’ve reached the playoffs only four times and are poised to finish outside this year’s postseason picture. Only the Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens have been playoff contenders for sustained periods.
The Canadiens face the same issues as most of the Canadian teams atop the “no-trade” list. They must also deal with issues of language and high taxes. Thanks largely to rebuilding from within, however, the Canadiens have emerged this season as a dominant club. That could have a positive effect upon their efforts to bolster their lineup via trades or free agency.
The Canucks have to deal with their share of media pressure, though their climate is far more appealing. While their championship window has closed, they remain a playoff contender. They can still attract quality free agents, having signed Ryan Miller and Radim Vrbata last summer. Like the Canadiens, they are also focused on rebuilding with promising youth, which could get them back into championship contention in a few years.
If the Oilers were perennial Stanley Cup contenders as they were in their 1980s heyday they would have little difficulty landing talent via trades or free agency. Improved performances by the Leafs, Jets and Senators could go a long way toward making them favorable trade destinations. As long as those teams continue to stumble along with no improvement in sight, the longer they’ll remain on the “no-trade” list.
As a long suffering Islanders fan, I know this holds true. Hopefully, that will be a thing of the past. The youth drafted has finally blossomed and they are a solid team. Let’s see if we can get Leddy and Boychuck to resign- that will show us something.
Winning teams attract those who want to win.In the NHL,that winning formula must truly be developed from within via the draft whereby the annual free agent market merely becomes about adding that complimentary piece to take the team to the Cup.
For the Maple Leafs, a total wash and rinse of previous regimes needs to occur. Shanny seems to possess that mandate of change and permission to “do the laundry” as he sees fit.
If he does it right, and can convince MLSE to allow him to dissect, disassemble and resurrect to playoff status,then I say God bless you for being able to do what others before you have failed miserably at since 1967.
Its not just about Brendan knowing what’s needed done.Its about can MLSE be patient long enough and allow him to correct what Harold Ballard ruined; and reverse the trend and make this team a winner? MLSE; to do this, you will have to believe and allow this man to do it. Can U?
The media coverage of the NHL was not even close as it is now back in 98 till 04.
we are so saturated now.
You are right. In the multichannel universe, with competing sports networks, the media coverage has never been greater. As evidenced in the many programs dedicated to covering the Canadian teams outside the rink. There is even a stadium series show. And with Center Ice and the sports networks there are more televised games than ever. There are so many games televised that I would be divorced if I was to watch them all!
I understand the pressures of playing in a fish ball but at the end if the day you are a professional who is being well compensated. You should play where you are told and get away during the off season. These no movement clauses are total crap. And why would a hockey player NOT want to play in Canada’s great hockey market boggles my mind. Would you seriously rather play Carolina or Florida which gets 10,000 to 12,000 a night? At least Buffalo is just like a Canadian city in its passion for the game.
Just one more mistake among many to come out of the collective bargaining agreements. The league consists of 30 teams – you go where you’re traded. End of story. Don’t like that? Get into a new line of work. Another mistake was allowing a player to demand a trade – then invoke a NM clause if he doesn’t like his new destination (hello Dany Heatly nixing a trade to Edmonton).
I have thought this for years. If a player has a no trade clause but demands to be traded , then his clause should be nullified and the team able to trade him wherever they choose , it is the player breaking the deal.
I’ll agree that the frequency of the NM or NT clauses are getting ridiculous. I am a supporter of Burke’s mentality on them. There are definitely players that deserve them because they have earned the right to them. I also understand the logic behind the NM clause as it prevents a player from being sent down to the AHL except for (I believe) conditioning stints where required.
However, the GMs are their own worst enemy with these as they throw them in as an incentive to sign a FA or potential FA.
I don’t think a NM or NT should run the duration of the contract. Sure for year one, possibly two dependent on term and it’s determined prior to signing. Solves the issue of handcuffing a team looking for change for the term of the contract and also holds the player, albeit to a limited extent, accountable for their level of play by allowing a team to trade them or move them down if it makes sense.
All good points however you can bet GM’s also leverage the ‘no trade’ clauses to reduce the total $ being offered during negotiations. I’d be interested in knowing if teams in less desirable markets (i.e. small market Canadian teams and perennial losers) are more likely to offer them as an incentive for players to stay?
Any player should be tradable at any time if the GM thinks the trade will improve the team. Any player who earns or deserves a no-trade clause does not need one.
As a long time hockey and Oiler fan, when your team is in the cellar, it’s a vicious circle. You cannot attract quality free agents, or you have to overpay to get mediocre talent. The Oilers even outbid the Leafs to try and get Clarkson, but it didn’t work. Thankfully it didn’t happen! And the Heatley and Nylander attempted trade episodes, made it obvious that Edmonton was not a preferred destination. Drafting is paramount to building a competitive team, but a team is rounded out by drafting free agents. LA,Boston, and Chicago became elite teams that are perennial contenders by astute free agent signings to put them over the top. So it’s a vicious circle to get out of the cellar.
It would be interesting to read about the different tax burdens players bear according to whether they play north or south of the U.S./Canada border. I, for one, would welcome any such comments.