NHL: Calls for Immediate Disclosure of Conditional Draft Pick Terms

Should the NHL mandate immediate transparency for conditional trade picks?

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet recently joined Gord Stellick and Scott Laughlin on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio to discuss the diminishing perceived value of draft picks in trades. Friedman specifically raised the question of whether the specific conditions attached to these picks should be made public immediately upon a trade's completion.

Gord Stellick initiated the discussion by observing a growing tendency among teams to undervalue late first-round picks, often including them readily in various trade scenarios. He pondered if the league might re-evaluate its approach to draft pick valuation, potentially drawing inspiration from the NFL's system. Stellick questioned whether recent "schmozzles" involving conditional picks, particularly those with top-5 or top-10 protections contingent on playoff expectations, would prompt general managers to adopt a more cautious approach in future transactions.

In response, Elliotte Friedman suggested that general managers would likely push for enhanced protections in trades. He referenced ongoing discussions in the NBA aimed at addressing "tanking," which include brainstorming ideas such as limiting the frequency with which first-round picks can be traded. However, Friedman emphasized that the NHL situation largely involves self-policing by GMs, where teams, like Toronto in a particular case, knowingly undertake risks to finalize deals.

While Friedman stated he doesn't believe the league needs to over-regulate the use of conditional picks, he strongly advocated for absolute transparency. He asserted that if a trade involves conditional draft picks, their precise terms and conditions *must* be clearly and immediately disclosed at the time of the trade announcement. He cited the trade between Florida and Chicago as a prime example, where the top-10 protection on Florida's pick was not publicly known for an entire year. Friedman expressed significant frustration that such crucial details were omitted from the official press releases issued by both the Blackhawks and Panthers, arguing emphatically that all conditions on picks should be explicit from the outset of the deal.