Tyler Bertuzzi just signed with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Before free agency started on July 1, Nick Foligno called him up and mentioned that the Blackhawks were interested. Bertuzzi was thrilled about this news and things quickly moved forward from there. He ended up signing a four-year deal worth $22 million with the team, after scoring 21 goals and racking up 43 points last season.
However, there’s a twist in this story. If Foligno talked to Bertuzzi before free agency began, it could mean he broke NHL’s tampering rules. These rules say players and coaches can’t try to influence someone who’s still under contract with another team. But many people think nothing will happen because tampering was so common this offseason that investigating it would be pointless for the NHL.
League’s Stance on Tampering:
Tampering penalties in the NHL are usually minor. For example, back in 2016, Jim Benning of the Vancouver Canucks was fined only $50,000 for saying he wanted to sign Steven Stamkos and P.K. Subban during free agency.
Fans might think it’s unfair if some teams get away with breaking rules while others don’t face any consequences.
What do you think about all this?
