Bettman said there hasn't been substantive CBA dialogue between the NHL and NHLPAgetty images
The NHL would "like to begin making plans" for a '20 World Cup of Hockey, but "has no guarantee of labor peace that would allow such a tournament to take place," according to Stephen Whyno of the AP. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "If we're going to do a World Cup, and do it with the planning necessary, if we don't know by the first of the year or All-Star (Game), then there's no sense in trying to pull off a World Cup for 2020." Whyno noted there "isn't yet" an agreement between the league and the NHLPA that would "ensure neither side chooses to terminate" the current CBA in September '19. Bettman said, "There hasn't been any substantive dialogue on any of the topics that I assume (players) may or may not want to conclude. They know the time frame. The puck's in their end." An NHLPA spokesperson said that the group "did not have anything to add on the topic of potential CBA talks" (AP, 12/3).
CAP ON THE RISE: Bettman said that he projects next year's salary cap will rise to about $83M, meaning that there will be about $3.5M "more available to spend on payrolls" in '19-20. SPORTSNET.ca's Chris Johnston noted the cap has "risen steadily in recent years," going from $64.3M in '13-14 to $79.5M this season. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said, "The fact [that] the salary cap continues to increase means revenues continue to increase, which means the state of the sport and the business is very healthy. As healthy as it's ever been. That's good for us, it's good for the players. I think it's good for everybody" (SPORTSNET.ca, 12/3).
SHIFTING LANDSCAPE: The NHL today in announcing Seattle as an expansion franchise also announced that the Coyotes will move to the Central Division in the western conference, and TSN.ca's Frank Seravalli wrote the move "makes sense from a geographical standpoint." But a skeptic would "suggest aligning Arizona in the Central" also allows the NHL the "latitude to slide the financially troubled Coyotes to a ready-made relocation spot in Houston if necessary" (TSN.ca, 12/3).
