Brad Marchand has jumped into the no-trade debate, and the Florida Panthers veteran didn't tiptoe around Gary Bettman's comments.
Marchand responded on Instagram to the commissioner's recent remarks, describing the system as "broken," according to HockeyFeed.
Bettman had said no-trade clauses drifted from their original purpose, which was protecting players who signed long-term somewhere they wanted to stay.
In his view, they weren't meant to let a player demand a trade and then dictate where he goes, and he floated taking it up with the Players' Association.
Marchand has the better argument on one front. These clauses were negotiated, and the league signed off on every one of them.
It's a restaurant complaining about its own all-you-can-eat buffet once the hungry customers show up.
So who's right? The full context of the comment wasn't included in the report, which means one word is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
Brad Marchand calls the system “broken” as Dylan Larkin trade controversy heats up
HockeyFeed tied the timing to Larkin in Detroit and Hellebuyck in Winnipeg, saying both hold significant contractual protections.
Larkin first named three teams in June where he'd accept a trade, per Marqueur.com, and Elliotte Friedman later reported that the list grew.
Red Wings fans booed during the introductions at Friday's home opener, with Larkin not in uniform.
In Winnipeg, Nick Kypreos reported the Jets want Sam Montembeault so they wouldn't need a goalie back in a Hellebuyck deal.
Hellebuyck carries an $8,500,000 cap hit, and Stuart Skinner started the Jets' opener.
HockeyFeed also noted that Marchand held his own no-movement clause in Boston before the trade that sent him to Florida.
His Panthers are 1-0-1 after a 4-3 overtime loss in San Jose, and Aleksander Barkov is now listed day-to-day with a knee injury.
Gustav Forsling is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
The Panthers visit Anaheim on Sunday, then Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Bettman floated the Players' Association route. If more players follow Marchand's lead, that conversation is going to start a lot sooner and a lot louder.
Is Brad Marchand right that the NHL's trade clause system is broken?
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