What Happened
In a Sportsnet column, Justin Bourne argues that with the NHL salary cap rising significantly, both teams and star players should reconsider how they approach contract term. He points to Dylan Larkin, Connor Hellebuyck and Brady Tkachuk, who each sought trades partway through long-term deals that included no-trade protection. Bourne holds up Auston Matthews' five- and four-year contracts with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a sensible alternative that still pays elite players well.
Key Details
- Larkin asked for a trade in year four of an eight-year contract.
- Hellebuyck asked for a trade in year three of a seven-year deal.
- Tkachuk's trade request came in year six and was granted before year seven.
- Bourne says no-trade clauses on those deals hurt the returns their teams received.
- Matthews signed five- and four-year deals with Toronto after his entry-level contract.
- Bourne notes maximum term can cost players a chance to re-sign as the cap rises.
What It Means
The column frames contract term as a two-way risk. Long deals give players guaranteed money and protect against injury, but they also lock in a cap hit and tie a player to a market through organizational changes. For teams, shorter deals can preserve flexibility and trade value, though they carry the risk of losing a star to free agency sooner. Bourne's argument is that shorter terms may suit both sides better as the cap climbs.