Free agency tampering: former GM will have none of it

PUBLICATION

Daniel Lucente
July 6, 2024 (12:43)

SHARE THIS STORY

Former NHL general manager Neil Smith is not happy with all of the NHL tampering going on during free agency, and speaks out against it.

Smith believes that tampering during free agency period is becoming a huge issue around the NHL as more and more teams and players are starting to engage in this illegal activity. Fans have begun to notice this happening as well. Smith believes that players and teams are finding loopholes to avoid being officially accused of tampering.

"There's ways to get around the [free agent] tampering rules by talking to the agents through a third-party." #NHL

Smith goes on to say that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and the league have not been taking any action to try and combat this illegal activity, which is why more and more teams are engaging in it, because no one is facing any repercussions. The league has also not received any complaints of tampering by other teams, because they all have, or eventually want to engage in tampering as well.

"The problem... there isn't a whistleblower in the league because everybody is doing it," added Smith.

Smith, a former Stanley Cup winner, knows what it takes to win in the league, but seeing as there are so many more teams that are in the NHL now than ever before, he believes some are finding new, illegal ways to try and get ahead of all the competition, and believes someone needs to step up and stop it once and for all.

Credit Hockey Feed:
Former NHL GM calls out teams for tampering in free agency.