NHL Plans to Impose Hefty Fines & Expulsions for Tampering: Report

Those penalties could be steep starting next offseason.

For teams, fines may reach $5 million, coupled with the loss of draft picks and potentially even the forfeiture of signed players. 

Individuals could face fines of up to $1 million, suspension, or expulsion from the league.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly emphasized these rules at the NHL GM meetings in mid-November, as reported by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, reminding general managers that discussions with pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) before July 1 are strictly prohibited.

LeBrun added on TSN's "Insider Trading" that there are legal mechanisms to facilitate early discussions, such as teams granting UFAs permission to negotiate with other clubs.

“The NHL has strict tampering rules, but there are ways to work within them,” LeBrun said.

This approach can allow teams to secure assets, like draft picks, before free agency opens, but outside of that legal path, any other interaction would be penalized.

The crackdown comes as the NHL continues to face challenges proving tampering violations, but the league’s message is clear: blatant disregard for the rules will no longer be tolerated.