Board of Governors assembly roundup: 16 cities in working for 2028 World Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — While the NHL waits for progress to be made on the arenas being constructed to host Olympic hockey in Milan this coming February, it’s shifting in direction of a call on host cities for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.

“We’re down to 10 North American cities, and six cities in Europe” stated NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly after the NHL Board of Governors conferences wrapped Tuesday.

An announcement is predicted “probably after the Olympics,” added commissioner Gary Bettman.

Daly confirmed the format has already been determined, with a few of the European members making up one pool in a single European metropolis whereas the opposite groups will probably be hosted in a single North American metropolis. The semifinal and last will then be performed within the North American metropolis.

Sources stated Las Vegas, Boston and Montreal have been all amongst unique bidders, whereas Daly couldn’t say whether or not any of them stay in rivalry to host the event.

On Boston and Montreal, which hosted the highly-successful 4 Nations Face-Off in February of 2025, Bettman stated, “Obviously we’re aware of how well both cities supported the event.”

“But lots of cities are interested,” he added.

Several will probably be in rivalry for future World Cups as properly, with the NHL and NHLPA asserting on the 4 Nations Face-Off that they’re dedicated to an everyday cycle of alternating each two years between this event and the Olympics by way of a minimum of 2032.

Eight nations, that are but to be confirmed, will take part in 2028. And they’ll play these video games on NHL-sized surfaces.

Daly expressed optimism Monday that NHLers will sq. off with their respective nations on the 2026 Olympics, regardless of mounting considerations over the shorter dimensions and high quality of the ice in addition to lagging building at each Milan arenas.

“They’re moving towards their goal,” stated Daly. “There doesn’t seem to be anything insurmountable in getting to completion.”

NHL income projections on track

Bettman stated the league up to date the governors that hockey-related income (HRR) is predicted to be north of $6.8 billion this season.

When requested if there’s potential for the wage cap, which is predicted to go from $95 million this season to $104 million subsequent season, to be set increased, Bettman responded, “No.”

The commissioner stated on a number of events over the past 12 months {that a} gradual scale up — from $95 million in 2025-26 to $104 million in 2026-27 and $113 million in 2027-28 million — could be in the perfect curiosity of each the house owners and the gamers, who break up HRR evenly.

Should the HRR projection stay on monitor, it’ll are available barely above what the cap for this season accounts for, which can quantity to a “top up” of participant salaries, Daly confirmed.

No escrow is presently being withheld from the gamers.

Other objects on BOG agenda

• After listening to from USA Hockey on Monday, the league and the governors got a presentation from the United States Hockey League about their considerations over how the altering panorama in junior/faculty hockey is affecting them.

Recent changes to the system have made it attainable for Canadian Hockey League gamers to switch to U.S. schools, the place they have been beforehand ineligible to play after receiving stipends to play within the CHL. The change has opened extra alternative for USHL gamers to play within the CHL, therefore the USHL’s concern.

That concern may doubtlessly be mitigated down the road by the creation of 1 main junior tremendous league spanning each Canada and the United States.

That’ll be one thing to watch shifting ahead.

• Rules revolving round playing have been reviewed this week within the wake of the current NBA scandal.

“The fact is our people do know, and there have been tons of debriefs on what you can and can’t do, not just on gambling on hockey, but with respect to: if you’re going to gamble, to do it legally. And you need to make sure you’re in compliance with the rules,” stated Bettman. “You can’t share accounts, do it from out of jurisdiction, and in the event you’re approached by anyone searching for to get info or have you ever do issues, you have to report it to us in order that we are able to take the suitable response. I believe if you wish to deal with what we do with respect to making sure that we get compliance, we’re monitoring information factors in each recreation in actual time in each recreation that goes on, and we do the identical factor with our betting companions and our prediction market companions to ensure that there are not any unexplainable shifts. And whenever you pair that with the information that’s happening within the recreation, you’ll be able to’t do that and get away with it.

“And so, I think that’s an important thing for everybody to know. Not that you should do it anyway or try to get away with it; the integrity of the game is too important.”

• A location for the 2026 NHL Draft has but to be confirmed.

“Nothing we’re prepared to announce yet,” stated Bettman. “It’s something that’s being worked on, which, in terms of the timing, isn’t that big an issue since it’s going to be a remote draft again, and so the number of people travelling in will be dramatically less.”

• After video games involving each Florida groups featured debatable calls/non-calls for hand passes leading to objectives, Bettman was requested if there’s any urge for food from the league to amend Rule 79.

“1,312 games, how many thousands of calls and non-calls? Two situations, as you call them, does not a situation make,” he responded. “We’ll look at it long-term, and if necessary, we’ll review it with the general managers in March.”

• Expansion stays on the backburner, regardless of expressions of curiosity from teams in Houston, Atlanta and Quebec.

-With partnerships between the league and U.S. tv suppliers ESPN and TNT set to run out in 2028, Bettman was additionally requested concerning the future U.S. tv rights deal.

With each Paramount and Netflix presently bidding towards one another to take over Warner Bros. Discovery, the panorama may see a dramatic shift.

“We’re going to have to wait to see how this plays out,” stated Bettman. “And we have this season and two other ones to see how the landscape develops.”