Photo Credit: Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports
The Stanley Cup Finals begin tonight, and Commissioner Gary Bettman, and the NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly spoke to the media before tonight’s game in Tampa Bay at Amalie Arena. Here were some intriguing notes from today’s presser:
- Per Gary Bettman and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, due to the pandemic, in regards to Olympic participation, “This is not the most ideal Olympics to go to.” They are still undecided if NHL players will be used for the Olympics in 2022. This is one reason there is a delay in the schedule being released, however, it sounds like it should be complete by July 23rd, which happens to be the NHL Draft.
- Gary Bettman on the Blackhawks sexual allegations: “The reaction whenever you hear allegations like that are concerning, but my first reaction is tell me the facts. Once we know what the facts are we can evaluate what may or may not need to be done.”
- There will be three outdoor games for the 2021-22 NHL season: Minnesota, Nashville, and a Heritage Classic game TBD in Canada.
- The 2022 All-Star game will be in Las Vegas, per Gary Bettman.
- Daly says: “A lot has to do with the continued uncertainty of the games, and Covid-related insurance issues” are two main hiccups with allowing NHL players to participate in the Olympics.
- Per Gary Bettman, Carolina will be given an outdoor game in the future, as they were supposed to host one this past season.
- The 2021-22 NHL season will begin around the dates of October 10-14.
Next season should be a little more like “Normal”, as Gary Bettman said things are starting to return to some normalcy before he started tonight’s presser. Whatever the case maybe, hockey fans are back in the arena and 16,300 hockey enthusiasts will be on hand to watch game 1 of the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens.
