NHL to Impose Harsh Punishment for Tampering After Tyler Bertuzzi Incident with Leafs, Per Elliotte Friedman
Elliotte Friedman revealed the harsh penalties the NHL hands out to teams they suspect of contract tampering and they have dire consequences.
The issue of contract tampering in sports is one that doesn't get a lot of attention in sports.
Often times players are afforded the ability to discuss with teams prior to free agency. The NHL isn't so, and as Elliotte Friedman revealed: The consequences can be dire.
With how the NHL functions, they don't work within the same parameters as the NBA or MLB where players can have a better idea of who is interested and make the best decisions for them and their families.
But for those players and teams who want to forgo the rules and try and get a head start, there are some pretty nasty punishments for both the team pursuing the player and the player themselves.
For NHL teams caught tampering they can expect the possibility of one, if not several of the following punishments:
- Up to a $5M Fine
- Immediate Termination Of Any Contract Signed
- Forfeiture Of Draft Picks
- Award Draft Picks/Cash/Compensation To The "Offended" Team (The player's previous team)
For the NHL players who sign the contracts, they don't get away scot-free either. Those punishments may include:
- Up To $1M Fine
- Suspension
- Expulsion
The NHL spoke recently regarding how they feel like this past offseason had some suspicion attached to it, with Bill Daly talking about how he felt that there may be tampering in the past but the 2024 offseason was most egregious:
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."
The main focus of this whole situation is the Tyler Bertuzzi contract incident. Bertuzzi signed with Chicago this offseason after leaving Toronto, but had a heads up that Chicago was interested thanks to Nick Foligno's intervention.
That's a big no-no for Bertuzzi and the Blackhawks. While it's fine for players to want to play with their friends or former teammates, it's another to eschew the rules in favor of trying to bring someone aboard.
However, the NHL isn't innocent in this either. It's bizarre to have restrictions on players being able to do what's best for them in the interest of fairness to the other teams.
So why can't the NHL afford the same fairness to its players so they can choose what is right for their families?
FAQ: Elliotte Friedman Reveals NHL Punishments For Tampering
Q1: What are the punishments the NHL gives for contract tampering?
A1: The NHL has a variety of punishments that includes fines, contract termination, draft pick revocation, as well as the potential for the player themself to be suspended or potentially expelled from the league.
Q2: Why was Tyler Bertuzzi's contract an issue?
A2: Tyler Bertuzzi's contract caused issues because he had insider information the Chicago Blackhawks wanted to make an offer, which is against the rules in the CBA; this has led to the NHL trying to keep a closer eye on free agency.
In closing, the NHL is trying to crack down on teams trying to eschew the rules of the CBA and try to engage in early contract talks with free agents.
The penalties handed out range from financial to career-ending and it might make teams and players think twice about trying to talk behind Gary Bettman's back.
