[getbak]

It has been said many times over the years that for most players, the trade protection clauses aren't about the player only wanting to play for one team, it's about giving the player a voice in determining where he will be playing. Very few players are likely in the position of not wanting to be traded at all, and for most of those players (like Crosby), the team probably feels the same way.

Most of the players who have trade protection only have limited protection anyway (especially in the latter seasons of the contract), so they have already agreed to be traded to some teams. Why wouldn't you ask about their willingness to go to a team that isn't on their "okay to trade" list if you think they might be fine with it?

This year is a good example, I'd bet a lot of players who submitted no-trade lists on July 1 had Vancouver and Winnipeg on the list because no one expected them to be good this year. Most of those players would likely gladly accept a trade to Vancouver or Winnipeg today if it was offered.



Like most workplace issues like this, it really comes down to open communication. There should be a constant dialog between the GM and player so neither side is caught off-guard by what the other side wants.

It doesn't make any sense to say "we're going to honour the exact terms of your contract no matter what" only to find out later that the player would have gladly accepted a trade you would have been happy to make if you had only asked.