NHL Notebook: Commissioner Gary Bettman gives state of the league at All-Star Weekend

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman held his annual state of the league news conferences on Saturday at All-Star Weekend in Tampa Bay, Fla. Along with deputy commissioner Bill Daly, Bettman discussed a number of topics and also announced some events for next season.

The 2019 NHL Weekend will be hosted by the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 26-27. The NHL will have two preseason games in China next September (teams TBD), while the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers will each play one preseason game in Switzerland and Germany, respectively. Then those teams will play against each other in the regular-season opener in Sweden.

Also, the Winnipeg Jets and Florida Panthers will play two regular-season games in early November.

Rumors have been swirling that the Boston Bruins would be one of the teams to play in China next season, but Bettman told BostonSportsJournal.com recently that's not the case.

“All of our efforts with respect to games and events over seas we do injunction with the players’ association, but I believe in the not-too-distant future, not necessarily next season, but the Bruins, as an Original Six team, as a storied franchise, will have their turn internationally," Bettman said.

“There are some organizations that think twice about it, because there’s a little bit of wear and tear on making travel arrangements half way around the world. But the Bruins have always been a great lead team, in terms of when you ask them to do something, whether it’s an outdoor game, or you name it, they’re always happy to be participating. At some point, in the foreseeable future, I see some travel in their plans.”

Here's Bettman and Daly's Q&A with the media in Tampa:



On the success of the Vegas Golden Knights and if the same process will be used in future expansion draft. 

BETTMAN: I have no doubt -- if there is going to be another expansion team, they are going to insist on having the same expansion terms. I think that's crystal clear. I think George McPhee did an outstanding job of using the rules. We knew the team would be better. The goal was to make the team competitive at its inception, and there is a great mix of talent that's bonded very well. It's clear they hired the right coach for the right time and the right group.

And I've also said this regularly, what has gone on in Las Vegas in the wake of a terrible tragedy, I think, has this team playing on a bit of a mission. They've been part of the unity and healing of Las Vegas since the shootings in early October. I was there opening night which was extraordinarily emotional, and it is crystal clear that the players who were so great in terms of going into the community and being part of the healing process, that the bonding that has gone on is something that's extraordinary in this short a period of time. I think on some level the players are on a bit of a mission.

DALY: I think the owners and the clubs also deserve a lot of credit for supporting the expansion draft rules. Certainly it was our objective to make the expansion team stronger than it had been traditionally or historically. Our owners on our Executive Committee in the first instance, and ultimately the Board of Governors, embraced that as an objective, and I think we were pretty successful.

BETTMAN: To add on to what Bill said, we haven't gotten any negative pushback. I think most clubs are marveling at what's been accomplished.

On why there's a  holdup on announcing teams and dates for the games in China.

BETTMAN: As you know we do events, international events jointly with the players' association. We partner together, and we need to make sure as we go through this process that both sides are comfortable with all the details. And rather than rush things or even announce something unilaterally, we want to make sure our partners and we are in sync.

DALY: There are obviously more logistical challenges associated with international games than international travel, and taking a little longer to work out than we would have hoped.

On the league-wide inconsistency of goaltender interference. 

BETTMAN: It's a good question, and I'm glad you asked it. We just had a meeting, Colie Campbell put it together with hockey operations, and there were a couple officials there and some coaches that happened to be in town, some general managers and guys who work with Colie in hockey operations. When you say a bit of confusion, that's right. Overall, the system works, but I think we've gotten to the point where everybody's overthinking the review. The intention, particularly on goaltender interference, is: 'Did you miss something?' 'Was there a glaring error?' Not, 'Can you search for something that might overturn the call?' And I think the consensus of the meeting, although Bill can jump in because I had to leave a little early: it's really more we need to give a refresher and we'll send a memo to the officials. Take a quick look, but don't search it to death. The presumption should be the call on the ice was good unless you have a good reason to overturn it, and you shouldn't have to search for a good reason.

DALY: The language of the rule, it's 78.7, I think, it was actually pretty clear. We refreshed everyone in the room with respect to the language of the rule and intention of the rule. And that's going to be reemphasized to the officials.

On the Islanders returning to Nassau Coliseum on a part-time basis.

BETTMAN: I actually went on a tour of this last week. There are a variety of things that have to be upgraded, whether it's the locker rooms, and training facilities and the like. That's something we're in touch with the Islanders on. The Nassau Coliseum has been given a nice refresh in terms of the way it looks, but it's still the Nassau Coliseum. So anything that may or may not take place there certainly would have to be on a temporary basis.

On eSports league happening in the NHL.

BETTMAN: Our goal is to unveil something before the end of the regular season, which would have a series of competitions using the EA Games, and we'll have more details when we're ready to launch.

On the time line for possible expansion in Seattle and what that would mean for the Vancouver Canucks. 

BETTMAN: Well, Vancouver says they're very excited about the possibility of having a geographic rival. The good people in Seattle who are in pursuit potentially of an expansion franchise have told us that they are working on the expansion application and they anticipate being ready to file it in the not-too-distant future. The timetable in terms of filing the expansion application, doing season ticket drive, is largely up to them. We can respond to the extent that we're getting the information we need on a timely basis, whatever that timetable is, so that we can go through the processes that we have.

On Bettman's position on concussions and CTE. 

BETTMAN: Actually it's not my position. It's the position of the medical community and the medical and scientific experts that advise us. I'm not a doctor. I'm not a scientist. I only know what I'm told, including out of the most recent consensus statement on the International Conference on Sports Concussions in Berlin that was held. You can read those reports. I only repeat in response to a question what those reports say. I'm not the one who is making the determination.

On the NHL not participating in upcoming Winter Olympics and if that will change in the future. 

BETTMAN: I don't have an answer to that question. The fact is we find, the clubs find, the owners find that the Olympics are very disruptive on our season, and for that and a whole host of reasons we've been over repeatedly over the last year or so, it didn't make sense for us to attend. Could that circumstance change at some point in the future? I suppose so. But it's not something that we're currently contemplating.

On the future of the World Cup of Hockey. 

BETTMAN: That, like international games in China, is something that we need to do and seek to do in collaboration with the Players' Association. I think we'd all like to get another World Cup scheduled, because the last one in Toronto was so successful. But we've got lots of things that we're collaborating on, and sometimes they take time.

On the possibility of Quebec getting a franchise in the future. 

BETTMAN: We're not currently considering an application. I don't want to make any promises or definitive conclusions. But at the current time we're not focused on a team in Quebec City. I'm not saying that will never be our focus, but I don't want to make any promises that could be misconstrued.

On the possibility of realignment. 

BETTMAN: We'd have a process to go through, if we're going to go through an expansion evaluation process, and that would be one of the factors. Though based on the numbers and the geography, off the top of my head, that doesn't strike me as being one of the more complicated issues if expansion is going forward.

On the timeline for the Arizona Coyotes remaining in Glendale. 

BETTMAN: Ownership continues to work on the possibilities for a new arena. Ultimately the strength or resilience or persistence of a club depends on ownership's willingness to continue the pursuit. So my hope and expectation is that things can be worked out in Arizona, and we're going to continue to focus on it that way.

See, now that Carolina is no longer one that everybody is speculating is going to move -- and as I told you, they weren't going to -- I guess everybody is now going to see who they can focus on that. I'm not being critical. My only point is I wouldn't focus on Arizona moving right now or anytime soon, or maybe ever. So we're not misconstrued here.

On Tampa hosting the All-Star Weekend at the same time as Gasparilla Days. 

BETTMAN: It's been sensational. There is a great vibe, a great buzz. The number of people that have come up to me and said, 'It's so great to have hockey in Tampa. I'm a season ticket holder and I go to a lot of games.' Doing it with Gasparilla, as I said in my opening remarks, that was unusual in a very good way. It's a lot of fun. There is a great vibe here. Tampa is known for its hospitality hosting big events. We're thrilled to be here, and we're delighted with the weekend.

On the Stanley Cup playoff format. 

BETTMAN: I know there are lots of people who think we should put more teams in the playoffs. I'm not one of them. I think we have a very meaningful, competitive regular season and I like it. If we were to add a 32nd team, as I sit here today, not having given it a lot of thought, I can only get myself to trouble, I don't think I'd be in favor of making any changes in the number of teams that make the playoffs.