mouser
Business of Hockey
Interesting situation developing in Tampa.
https://www.tsn.ca/mckenzie-dotchin-showed-up-30-lbs-overweight-1.1175694
Last week Tampa announced they were placing Jake Dotchin on unconditional waivers for the purposes of terminating his contract for material breach. Dotchin cleared waivers. More details are coming out now that Dotchin allegedly reported to training camp 30 pounds above his playing weight last season. Also reported that the case is being grieved by the PA and will be heard by the independent arbitrator.
Some other media reports have claimed Dotchin did the same thing last season--reporting to camp in unsuitable condition. Reports at the time in 2017 stated he "violated a team rule" and was held out most of the preseason.
Is being overweight or otherwise out of condition a material breach of a player contract? The CBA mentions teams can fine and/or suspend players who report to camp out of condition. And there have been multiple reports of this happening in the past. So far as I'm aware this would be the first time a team has tried to terminate a contract for this reason.
On the one hand I can see if this is the second consecutive year in a row he's done this why the team considers it so egregious to be a material breach.
On the other hand, this potentially creates a dangerous precedent I'm sure the PA doesn't want to allow.
https://www.tsn.ca/mckenzie-dotchin-showed-up-30-lbs-overweight-1.1175694
Last week Tampa announced they were placing Jake Dotchin on unconditional waivers for the purposes of terminating his contract for material breach. Dotchin cleared waivers. More details are coming out now that Dotchin allegedly reported to training camp 30 pounds above his playing weight last season. Also reported that the case is being grieved by the PA and will be heard by the independent arbitrator.
Some other media reports have claimed Dotchin did the same thing last season--reporting to camp in unsuitable condition. Reports at the time in 2017 stated he "violated a team rule" and was held out most of the preseason.
Is being overweight or otherwise out of condition a material breach of a player contract? The CBA mentions teams can fine and/or suspend players who report to camp out of condition. And there have been multiple reports of this happening in the past. So far as I'm aware this would be the first time a team has tried to terminate a contract for this reason.
On the one hand I can see if this is the second consecutive year in a row he's done this why the team considers it so egregious to be a material breach.
On the other hand, this potentially creates a dangerous precedent I'm sure the PA doesn't want to allow.