What happened: The NHL carries roughly 245 no-trade and no-movement protections, limiting clubs’ ability to reshape rosters before 2026-27. The prevalence of those clauses makes hockey an outlier among major North American leagues.
Why it matters: Player approval can narrow the field of potential trade partners and reduce a club’s leverage in negotiations. The restrictions also complicate salary-cap planning when teams need to move established contracts.
By the numbers: Roughly 245 NHL contracts include no-trade or no-movement protection.
What to watch: Watch for waiver requests or modified trade lists as clubs finalize their 2026-27 rosters.