The NHL season has started to pick up some steam now that we're a month in, and trade rumors from numerous teams are already flying. Will the struggling New York Rangers trade their core pieces, will Jordan Binnington be on the move? Will Anaheim finally trade away Trevor Zegras? The trade deadline is one of the most exciting times in the NHL, and that day is fast approaching.
Trade deadline rules
The trade deadline ends at 3 p.m. Eastern time on March 7th. However, that doesn't mean that trades can't be completed. Trades can be done, but the players that are traded aren't able to play for their new team until next season. That usually leads to a flurry of trades the day of, as most teams looking to move pieces are doing it to compete in the postseason, meaning that most trades are done at that time. After the trade deadline, the rule of 23 man rosters is also lifted, allowing teams to put more players on their roster.
What is the no movement or no trade clause, and what is the difference?
The differences between a no movement and no trade clause are easily confused, as the rules are somewhat complicated. The no movement clause states that a player cannot be traded, placed on waivers, or assigned to the minors. The no trade clause only limits trades. Only players that have been in the league for seven or more years, or are 27 or older can put a no movement or trade clause on their contracts. Players and teams can also agree to a modifiied no trade or movement clause, limiting the amount of teams a player can be traded to. For example, Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers is currently in a modified no trade clause that allows the Rangers to only trade him to 15 teams.
How do roster rules work?
After the trade deadline, the way rosters are limited is changed. From the start of the season to the trade deadline, teams can only have 23 players on their roster. After the trade deadline, teams can have as many as 50 contracts on. However, teams do need to be under the cap limit set by the NHL, or else they will not be able to play games. The cap limit for this season is $88 million dollars. So, if a team's roster is over $88 million, they cannot play games. However, there is a loophole for this. Players that are on the long-term injured reserve list do not count towards a team's cap. When playoffs come around, the cap limit is removed to allow teams to call up players whenever they want in case of injuries. The Vegas Golden Knights took advantage of this rule last season by keeping forward Mark Stone on long-term IR, allowing them to trade for other players that would help them come playoff time. Stone came back for the playoffs, leading to some controversy around the league. So far, the rule hasn't been changed.
The NHL deadline is a confusing time in the world of hockey, but it is easily one of the most exciting parts of the year. The NHL's best teams will begin to load up for Stanley Cup runs, while others will trade away their rosters looking forward to next season. This season especially, some big trades could be on the horizon, and the NHL world can hardly wait.