Bettman Discusses Olympics, Outdoor Games, Expansion Draft, And More

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly addressed media today in the NHL’s annual press conference before Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals. Essentially a state-of-the-union update on the league, Bettman used the conference to formally announce events previously rumored but never confirmed, and both Bettman and Daly provided insight on other NHL topics of interest.

• The NHL will release its 2017-18 regular season schedule during the NHL Draft Week (June 23-24). The draft takes place in Chicago, IL this summer.
• The NHL officially announces that the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the 2018 NHL All-Star Game at Amalie Arena in Gasparilla, FL. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first reported that Tampa Bay would get the all-star game. It will be Tampa Bay’s first all-star game since 1999. Most pundits agree that announcing the game’s location all but ends any possibility of the NHL participating in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Bettman further reiterated later in the question period that the NHL will not go to the Olympics.
• Not only did the NHL formally announce an outdoor game on March 3, 2018 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals, but that the league plans to play outdoor games at other military academies down the line. Other Federal Service Academies that could serve as potential game sites include:
  • United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO;
  • United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT;
  • United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY; and
  • United States Military Academy in West Point, NY.
• NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly announced that the Vegas Golden Knights will now have 72 hours to make selections in the expansion draft. Previously Vegas had only 48 hours to make its selections. Teams will release its protected list on Sunday June 18, 2017, and Vegas will have until Wednesday June 21st to complete all selections. According to Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal the window will open and close at 10am.
• Bill Daly confirmed that next season’s salary cap will remain flat or increase slightly. The cap may increase to $77MM if the NHLPA uses its 5% inflator, but using the inflator creates a larger escrow withholding and exacerbates the NHLPA’s escrow concerns. This season’s salary cap was $73MM, and given Daly’s and the NHLPA’s comments, one should not expect it to rise above $74MM.
• Afterwards, Bill Daly continued to speak to media, and Michael Russo of the Star Tribune tweeted that the NHL has not yet determined if players on NHL contracts but playing in the AHL could play in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Allowing AHL players to play in the Olympics could create a massive loophole for teams who want to allow its stars to play. Any team could just temporarily demote a player who wants to go to the Olympics, and recall that player after the Olympics are over.