NHL Draft - Has "tampering" even been penalized?

[JIMVINNY]

Has a team ever been penalized for tampering with a potential draft pick? It occurs to me that a high profile pick could be coached by a team how to handle draft interview questions to try to ensure that he drops to them. So I have 2 questions;

1. Is there any evidence that this has occurred?

2. Would it be actionable by the NHL?

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[SEALBound]

The team makes the pick. If they want the player, they have every right to draft the player.

Jagr told 4 teams he wasn't coming over. Told Pittsburgh he'd be over tomorrow because he wanted to play with Mario. Any one of the first 4 teams could have picked him. That was their choice ultimately.

 

[jaywills1020]

The team makes the pick. If they want the player, they have every right to draft the player.

Jagr told 4 teams he wasn't coming over. Told Pittsburgh he'd be over tomorrow because he wanted to play with Mario. Any one of the first 4 teams could have picked him. That was their choice ultimately.

That’s not tampering though. He’s asking if a team 1 has coached a kid in what to do in an interview so teams will pass on him and hope he falls team 1.

 

[JIMVINNY]

That’s not tampering though. He’s asking if a team 1 has coached a kid in what to do in an interview so teams will pass on him and hope he falls team 1.

Precisely. Has a player tried to control their landing spot? The answer is obviously yes. Lindros is a good example of a player who was initially unsuccessful, but he certainly tried. I'm talking about a team actually working with a player to try to achieve a more favorable result for the team.

 

[Rec T]

I'm talking about a team actually working with a player to try to achieve a more favorable result for the team.

I strongly doubt it. If the kid is 'that' good, somebody will probably grab him before Team 1. A couple of interviews won't out balance highlight reels, prior interviews, etc. Maybe drop a spot or three (depending on the quality of the draft too), but if Team 1 had say the 8th pick & he was projected prior to the draft to be #3-4...probably not.

Then too you are expecting a LOT of people to keep their mouths absolutely shut for years. Probably at least a dozen for Team 1 (execs, scouting dept, coaches, interviewers, lawyers (most likely), secretaries doing all the paperwork, etc. Then the player, his agent, probably his parents (wondering why he wants to go later in the draft...), girlfriend, etc.

One person tipsy in a bar trying to impress someone with how important they are. Girlfriend getting dumped for someone hotter. Secretary pissed they didn't get an expected raise. Etc. You're relying on people with grudges or being stupid not to do or say anything...forever.

The cost:benefit ratio just isn't there for that level of tampering. Especially when it's unknown if he'll even work out & the others around him in the projected draft order probably aren't 'that' different than him all things considered.

Much safer to just try to trade up in the order to get him if you want him that badly.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Has a team ever been penalized for tampering with a potential draft pick? It occurs to me that a high profile pick could be coached by a team how to handle draft interview questions to try to ensure that he drops to them. So I have 2 questions;

1. Is there any evidence that this has occurred?

2. Would it be actionable by the NHL?

The St. Louis Blues found out that the NHL takes no-tampering rules seriously. The team will pay dearly for tampering with the New Jersey Devils' Scott Stevens in 1994. The NHL fined the Blues record $1.5 million for negotiating with Stevens while he was still property of the Devils back in 1994.

 

[JIMVINNY]

The St. Louis Blues found out that the NHL takes no-tampering rules seriously. The team will pay dearly for tampering with the New Jersey Devils' Scott Stevens in 1994. The NHL fined the Blues record $1.5 million for negotiating with Stevens while he was still property of the Devils back in 1994.

That's a player that was already the property of another team. I'm talking about a yet-undrafted player.

 

[Jumptheshark]

That's a player that was already the property of another team. I'm talking about a yet-undrafted player.

How can you tamper with a player who's rights are not owned by an nhl team and in Jagr case--he was the one running the game that day--however

The legendary Bobby Carpenter draft might give some insight

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/thn-archives/washington-capitals-archives-bobby-carpenter

There had been speculation that Carpenter would be selected in the first round. Soon, however, it became merely a question of how high he would go. Then came what seemed the definitive answer! The Whalers would make him the fourth choice. There was no interest among the three teams selecting earlier — Winnipeg, Los Angeles and Colorado — and on draft day Carpenter’s father, Bob Sr., sat at the Hartford table awaiting the dramatic announcement.
His father was at Hartford table is funny

then the caps did this

The Colorado Rockies' first round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on June 10, 1981 that sent the 5th overall pick and 26th overall pick to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for the 45th overall pick and this pick.

Also--there has been several times a draftee told a team that he would not sign with them if drafted--With Lindros being the most famous. There were always suggestions that Lindros' father and agent preferred either the rangers or leaf's

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

While not coaching a player, there was a team that was downplaying and saying various things about Demidov to sort of devalue him.

 

[BLNY]

Has a team ever been penalized for tampering with a potential draft pick? It occurs to me that a high profile pick could be coached by a team how to handle draft interview questions to try to ensure that he drops to them. So I have 2 questions;

1. Is there any evidence that this has occurred?

2. Would it be actionable by the NHL?

The player's agent handles all interview prep. A team trying to coerce a player into tanking interviews with other teams is the ultimate tinfoil hat.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Has a team ever been penalized for tampering with a potential draft pick? It occurs to me that a high profile pick could be coached by a team how to handle draft interview questions to try to ensure that he drops to them. So I have 2 questions;

1. Is there any evidence that this has occurred?

2. Would it be actionable by the NHL?

..so you think an NHL GM is gonna get a hold of the kid without his agent around, and convince him to do something that makes him look worse, professionally? Losing both prestige and respect from potential future employers?

I feel like you also believe in crypto coins, but that’s just a wild stab.

 

[JIMVINNY]

..so you think an NHL GM is gonna get a hold of the kid without his agent around, and convince him to do something that makes him look worse, professionally? Losing both prestige and respect from potential future employers?

I feel like you also believe in crypto coins, but that’s just a wild stab.

I asked if it had ever happened. I didn't say I thought it had. I do find it funny that you think NHL GM's are above this type of behavior, however. We have ample evidence that would suggest they aren't.

How does one "believe" in crypto coins, exactly? I mean, if someone offers me a bitcoin for free, I'm not going to tell him I don't "believe" in crypto.

 

[Jumptheshark]

The player's agent handles all interview prep. A team trying to coerce a player into tanking interviews with other teams is the ultimate tinfoil hat.

Yes and no. I am geek when it comes to reading books by former Gms. One former Gm of a very bad team/organization said a player completely tanked an interview because he really did not want to go to that team. We are in an era right now where players may not want to go a team for different reasons and may go to great lengths to waive off a team or two

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

I asked if it had ever happened. I didn't say I thought it had. I do find it funny that you think NHL GM's are above this type of behavior, however. We have ample evidence that would suggest they aren't.

How does one "believe" in crypto coins, exactly? I mean, if someone offers me a bitcoin for free, I'm not going to tell him I don't "believe" in crypto.

Did I say I thought they were above it? No. Did I in any way insinuate that? No. I’m saying it’s a ridiculous premise, because the entire concept works against the drafted player’s interests. You’d have to explain why a player would ever even hear this convo out instead of immediately calling his agent and getting a GM fired.

And ok, no swampland purchases in Florida either?

 

[RebuildinVan]

Benning, Jim $50000

Edit: whoops no picks were involved

 

[Figgy44]

Yes and no. I am geek when it comes to reading books by former Gms. One former Gm of a very bad team/organization said a player completely tanked an interview because he really did not want to go to that team. We are in an era right now where players may not want to go a team for different reasons and may go to great lengths to waive off a team or two

I was about to say that I could see "coaching" from "a team" to avoid a destination probably happens. But to the level you sorta turn the prospect into a DND and can control where you land, I don't know if that's possible.

I could see this happens more frequently than expected with players who have parents in management positions around the league who try to avoid certain orgs that might be detrimental to their development or avoid a hated rival team.

Chayka had that private scouting combine shit show, but no clue if any coaching for interviewing happened.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Did I say I thought they were above it? No. Did I in any way insinuate that? No. I’m saying it’s a ridiculous premise, because the entire concept works against the drafted player’s interests. You’d have to explain why a player would ever even hear this convo out instead of immediately calling his agent and getting a GM fired.

And ok, no swampland purchases in Florida either?

Why so angry?

It's unlikely but definitely plausible. Player A wants to play on Team B. Through some channel (back or direct) Team "coaches" him on how to tank interviews or suggests the idea.

In any case, OP asked a question. Why jump down his throat and be insulting? It just makes you look like a real dick.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I was about to say that I could see "coaching" from "a team" to avoid a destination probably happens. But to the level you sorta turn the prospect into a DND and can control where you land, I don't know if that's possible.

I could see this happens more frequently than expected with players who have parents in management positions around the league who try to avoid certain orgs that might be detrimental to their development or avoid a hated rival team.

Chayka had that private scouting combine shit show, but no clue if any coaching for interviewing happened.

We already see it in Football and Basketball players not wanting to go to certain teams. The NHL used to be safe when it 90% Canadians. But more and more we are seeing some non-Canadian players not wanting to head north for different reasons

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

otoh wasn’t there a prospect who tanked his interview so badly that brian burke wanted to fight him?

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

How can you tamper with a player who's rights are not owned by an nhl team and in Jagr case--he was the one running the game that day--however

The legendary Bobby Carpenter draft might give some insight

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/thn-archives/washington-capitals-archives-bobby-carpenter

There had been speculation that Carpenter would be selected in the first round. Soon, however, it became merely a question of how high he would go. Then came what seemed the definitive answer! The Whalers would make him the fourth choice. There was no interest among the three teams selecting earlier — Winnipeg, Los Angeles and Colorado — and on draft day Carpenter’s father, Bob Sr., sat at the Hartford table awaiting the dramatic announcement.
His father was at Hartford table is funny

then the caps did this

The Colorado Rockies' first round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on June 10, 1981 that sent the 5th overall pick and 26th overall pick to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for the 45th overall pick and this pick.

Also--there has been several times a draftee told a team that he would not sign with them if drafted--With Lindros being the most famous. There were always suggestions that Lindros' father and agent preferred either the rangers or leaf's

a trade that doesn’t answer the thread question, but weaves your two examples together: quebec in 1994 has the 9th and 10th pick. it’s the second straight year the eric lindros megatrade gave them a an extra first round pick that landed in the top ten (the previous year, they took thibault at #10 and deadmarsh at #14).

so as part of the mats sundin trade, they send the 10th pick to toronto, who are expected to take brett lindros. because he is a daddy’s boy, this is the desired result for the family, who have already made comments to the press saying they hope quebec doesn’t take him.

then quebec turns around and trades #9 to the islanders for #12, also swapping ron sutter for a much needed big two-day dman, uwe krupp. the isles take lindros.

two years later, krupp scores the cup winning goal.

what a trade. barely a month on the job for pierre lacroix and he pulls off not only helping the team achieve its professional goals, it also spited their enemies and prevented them from achieving their professional goals.

 

[Jumptheshark]

a trade that doesn’t answer the thread question, but weaves your two examples together: quebec in 1994 has the 9th and 10th pick. it’s the second straight year the eric lindros megatrade gave them a an extra first round pick that landed in the top ten (the previous year, they took thibault at #10 and deadmarsh at #14).

so as part of the mats sundin trade, they send the 10th pick to toronto, who are expected to take brett lindros. because he is a daddy’s boy, this is the desired result for the family, who have already made comments to the press saying they hope quebec doesn’t take him.

then quebec turns around and trades #9 to the islanders for #12, also swapping ron sutter for a much needed big two-day dman, uwe krupp. the isles take lindros.

two years later, krupp scores the cup winning goal.

what a trade. barely a month on the job for pierre lacroix and he pulls off not only helping the team achieve its professional goals, it also spited their enemies and prevented them from achieving their professional goals.

Bobby Carpentier's father was sitting at the Hartford Whaler table. He did not work for the Whalers. Why was he there. Because the Whalers invited him.
The sort of Ironic thing? Who did the whalers draft? Ron Francis. BTW The Jets in 81 were always taken Hawerchuck. Kings took Doug Smith at 2 partly due to bad interaction with Carpenter prior to the draft.