In running informal polls through the years regarding the teams listed most frequently on no-trade clauses, a couple interesting developments emerged. For years, there were two consistent runaway leaders: Edmonton and Winnipeg. Various reasons were given, from the weather to the pressure that comes with playing in Canada.



But a funny thing happened when Connor McDavid landed with the Oilers. Those concerns weren’t such a problem anymore. Edmonton started to disappear from no-trade lists. Free agents wanted to join the team for one reason: to play with McDavid.



At the trade deadline this year, there was a breakthrough in Winnipeg. Paul Stastny waived his no-trade to join the Jets and acted like it was a no-brainer, even if many potential deals involving the team in the past had been squashed by a player with zero interest in joining Winnipeg. The Jets are emerging as a Western Conference powerhouse, and it’s in large part to a big talent like Patrik Laine,...