AHL GM Trades His Own Son for Future Considerations in Unusual Move

Utica Comets General Manager Dan MacKinnon traded his son, Will MacKinnon, to the Cleveland Monsters, sparking widespread reaction in the hockey community.

Dan MacKinnon, GM of the Utica Comets, traded his son Will MacKinnon to the Cleveland Monsters ahead of the AHL trade deadline on March 14, 2025.
The Comets received 'future considerations' in return, a term often used for undefined or conditional compensation in trades.
Will MacKinnon, a 24-year-old defenseman, had played 42 games for the Comets this season, contributing four assists but was recently a healthy scratch.
The trade may offer Will an opportunity for more playing time with the Monsters, who are in playoff contention, unlike the last-place Comets.
Fans and commentators have speculated on the motivations behind the trade, with some suggesting it was a difficult but career-focused decision by Dan MacKinnon.