National Hockey League general managers concluded their third and final day of annual meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the media following the sessions, which focused on hockey operations and potential future rule adjustments.
Key topics discussed included the league's continued evaluation of coach's challenges for goaltender interference and offside plays. The GMs also reviewed the state of the game, including scoring trends and pace of play through the 2025-26 season.
A significant portion of the discussions centered on player contract mechanisms, specifically the potential for modifying no-trade and no-move clauses. The group debated whether to propose a rule change that would require players to submit updated lists of teams to which they would accept a trade more frequently than the current once-per-year deadline.
No formal rule changes were voted on or enacted during these meetings. Any proposed amendments would require further review and approval by the NHL's Board of Governors. The next opportunity for formal rule changes is typically at the GMs' next meeting in November.
