Patrick Johnston: The Canucks appealed to the league for a roster rule exemption. They were turned down but they’ve made change before …<\/p>\n
Get the latest from Patrick Johnston straight to your inbox Sign Up <\/p>\n
Published Oct 21, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Two years ago, the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> were dinged by the league for breaking post-season practice rules. But the NHL did end up changing the rules because of it.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Could the Canucks now end up changing the league\u2019s new roster rules, for practical reasons?<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The short version of the fine from 2023<\/a> was that, following the end of the 2022-23 NHL season, the Canucks kept Rogers Arena<\/a> available to the players for a few extra weeks so those players who were bound for the World Championships \u2014 Canada\u2019s Tyler Myers<\/a> and Ethan Bear, the USA\u2019s Conor Garland<\/a> \u2014 plus a couple players recovering from injury, could remain active with the team\u2019s help.<\/p>\n The problem was the Canucks allowed a member of the team\u2019s staff to direct those skates, which under the collective bargaining agreement was a no-no. Teams are allowed to have their facilities open and to have staff on hand to assist players with off-season training, but the rules prevented coaches from directing training sessions. The CBA has long been clear about how firm the boundaries for work time and personal time are, and allowing a coach to direct off-season preparations has been restricted to the official pre-season.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n They have been in place to prevent teams from placing pressure on personnel when they aren\u2019t at work and to create a clear definition between what is and isn\u2019t working hours. The rules are also in place to keep the off-season training field between teams somewhat level. In a league with a few very rich teams and a number of not-so-rich teams, some might be able to employ more training personnel than others.<\/p>\n After the Canucks\u2019 fine, which the team said they were surprised by as they thought they were abiding by the spirit of the rules, the NHL and players\u2019 association got together and came up with a logical solution, that players could request time with a team-employed skills coach during the off-season. Those requests would have to go through the NHLPA, which would then communicate with the league.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Canucks didn\u2019t get their fine waived, but they still did initiate change for the better.<\/p>\n On Monday, they repeated this lesson of \u201cbring up the issues in practical terms and see what they really mean.\u201d Faced with a bit of an injury crisis following Sunday\u2019s game in Washington<\/a>, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin called up the NHL with a query: Under the revised terms of the newly signed collective bargaining agreement, which will come into force over this season and the next, teams can no longer shuttle players between the NHL and AHL daily in order to save money on the salary caps. With more and more teams basing their AHL teams within driving distance of the NHL team, it had become a regular habit for teams to send their spare players down to the AHL roster for a day or two, just to reduce their daily cap burden and increase their accrued cap space later in the season.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n That practice has been banned. Players must now spend a game in the minors when they are sent down.<\/p>\n In this case, Allvin asked the NHL and NHLPA if the team could get an exemption. They wanted to play Victor Mancini in the NHL, but because of his cap hit and the team\u2019s desire to move Nils Hoglander<\/a> to long-term injured reserve so they could take advantage of LTIR\u2019s salary relief provisions, it would be optimal if they could swap Mancini and minor leaguer Jimmy Schuldt, who had a slightly lower cap hit.<\/p>\n Allvin confirmed the request, although he didn\u2019t get into the nitty-gritty of what they were asking for. But it\u2019s pretty clear that they asked if they could, for practical reasons, make an old-fashioned paper exemption, simply so they could get the optimal amount of relief from Hoglander\u2019s contract.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Presumably the point was made to the NHLPA that if they were allowed to make this move, which was not to save money against the cap, that Mancini would make more money on the aggregate too, since his minor league salary is far smaller \u2014 and the union is in the business of getting their members as much NHL salary as possible.<\/p>\n At the moment the answer is no, but you can\u2019t help but wonder if, in the long run, other teams ponder the practical reality of what the Canucks were facing here and start talking about making an exemption to the current rule. That is what happened with the Canucks\u2019 2023 practice rule violation.<\/p>\n pjohnston@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Canucks’ CBA fine leads to trial of players skating with coaches in off-season<\/p>\n![\"mancini\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1022-col-pj-1.jpg\")
Defenceman Victor Mancini was at the centre of a request for a player swap currently not allowed under the NHL collective bargaining agreement. Photo by Elsa \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.7.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n![\"Canucks](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.7.1\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-vs-canucksReport.svg\"\/){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/png011123ncanucks-11.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2206767491_294610694.jpg\")
<\/p>\n