NHL Investigating Maple Leafs' Tampering Case Following Tyler Bertuzzi's Departure, per Elliotte Friedman

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Chris Gerics
November 14, 2024 (7:19 PM)

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The NHL is investigating several contracts including former Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi's as the league tries to stop players and teams from tampering.

The NHL is unique in its approach to free agency, as it doesn't have a method for teams to discuss ahead of time with players if they want to make a deal, and it turns into more of a free-for-all for the teams as they scramble to figure out new faces and players try to manage moving cities and countries at times.

It's not fair to either teams or players, but it's how the league operates. So it's unsurprising that they would try and skirt the rules and meet in private while the league has their back turned, and now the NHL is trying to save face and punish those who did them dirty; such as the case of Tyler Bertuzzi and the Chicago Blackhawks' deal this summer.

Per Elliotte Friedman in his '32 Thoughts' blog, he believes the NHL's warning about them going to investigate some contracts is a signal the league wants to crack down on these conversations but that these talks are a 'necessary evil.'

"The tampering warning was interesting. As a player, I'd see it as a necessary evil if you're not going to have the free agency dating period. If I'm going to be deciding what's best for my family and career, I'd rather stealthily make it with some preparation as opposed to a flood of information and take-it-or-leave-it offers on July 1.

What it says to me is the league is looking to punish someone who is overly blatant or not careful (and let's face it, many teams are just as guilty as the agents). But, the league doesn't need a complaint to act. When Toronto signed John Tavares, it was investigated - and cleared - without the Islanders asking."

Other professional sports leagues have a time period where free agents can negotiate with teams and gauge interest as opposed to being left in the dark and surprised with either a dozen offers or none for weeks; it's a tough way to go about business.

Friedman wasn't the only one though. NHL Insider Pierre Lebrun was reminded by Daly that these discussions are against the rules and though the league is willing to turn a blind eye at times; this year was a serious outlier to Daly. On TSN's Insider Trading, Lebrun had this to say:

"As Bill Daly told me afterward, more of a refresher, that the league has not talked about or emphasized the rules around tampering for a few years now and he felt now that it was time and I asked him why it was time and he said that he was, "a little uncomfortable" with some of the commentary in the media reported heading into July 1st last year.

It gave them the impression that there's been negotiations before July 1st and he just wanted to remind GMs that you can't do that before July 1st and there are repercussions in terms of fines and/or potential loss of draft picks. So we'll see what impact that conversation from Bill Daly had ahead of next July 1st."

The league has to either implement a negotiation period or not worry so much about tampering. It's understandable why the league wants parity and "make it fair" for teams to get a shot, but these are still human beings who deserve to do what's best for them and their families.

It's another blemish on the resume of Gary Bettman, Bill Daly, and the entire contingent of NHL executives as the league tries to save face and not embarrass themselves like they've done over and over again.