All articles tagged with #no movement clause
The Chicago Blackhawks signed Bowen Byram to a six-year extension averaging $12.5 million per season, with a full no-movement clause, making him the league’s highest-paid defenseman for now. The deal follows Chicago’s acquisition of Byram from Buffalo and positions the 25-year-old to log heavy minutes, run the power play, and potentially become a No. 1 defenseman as the team builds around him.
With a rising salary cap and a new CBA, the 2026 NHL landscape is shifting from traditional free-agent signings to a busy, trade-heavy offseason driven by players' no-movement clauses. Key talks involve Jason Robertson, Dylan Larkin, Connor Hellebuyck, and Zach Werenski, suggesting marquee moves may come via trades rather than signings, while some stars may stay with contending teams. In short, free agency itself may be average, but the trade market will define the offseason.
Toronto’s injury-plagued season has ignited a high-stakes offseason as the Maple Leafs weigh their direction around Auston Matthews. With a Grade 3 MCL tear limiting his impact and the team slipping in the standings, management faces decisions on whether to retool around a franchise icon or pursue other moves, while Matthews evaluates his future under a contract with a no-movement clause amid questions about Toronto’s championship window.
Buffalo is finalizing a trade to acquire defenseman Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues, sending Radim Mrtka and a first-round pick to St. Louis (Buffalo drafted Mrtka ninth overall in 2025). Parayko, 32, is under a $6.5 million AAV contract through 2030 with a full no-movement clause and must approve the deal. A premier shutdown defender with Olympic pedigree and a key part of the Blues’ 2019 Stanley Cup run, Parayko has 14 points in 58 games this season. The Sabres discussed a Robert Thomas swap earlier; currently they sit two points behind Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division, with two extra games played, as Buffalo seeks its 14th straight playoff-less year.
Nashville star Steven Stamkos publicly shot down trade chatter, saying he won’t waive his no-movement clause, even as reports suggested a short list of acceptable destinations (Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Dallas). The camp remains open to a summer move rather than the deadline, with cap space and asset compensation likely shaping any deal as Nashville contends with rebuilding and a changing front office.