All 16 NHL postseason arenas "will have puck and player technology available, while all arenas will have it ready to go" for the start of the '21 season, according to Marisa Ingemi of the BOSTON HERALD. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "There will be more data than ever before. I believe the players will generate something like 200 data points per second and the puck 2,000 data points a second, so in terms of getting inside the game, telling stories, as a fan delving in to get what you're interested in, you're going to be able to do more things than ever before and even imaginable" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/25). In Boston, Matt Porter wrote the league's long-anticipated rollout was "delayed last summer after changing its technology partner (from Jogmo World Corp. to SMT)." The league has "tested the technology" at the last three All-Star Weekends, including this years. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that the system "will be active for certain games the remainder of this regular season." Porter noted the league "doesn't yet know which games will serve as guinea pigs" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/25). ESPN.com's Greg Wyshynski wrote puck and player tracking "isn't just a storytelling device," it is "potentially big business." The NHL has "licensed its data to sportsbooks such as MGM and William Hill, with the anticipation that the sportsbooks will build new ways to wager on hockey around the data" (ESPN.com, 1/24).
UP IN THE AIR: Bettman said that NHL participation in the '22 Beijing Games "still seems unlikely." Bettman: "I know the players association still maintains a strong preference for the Olympics. I know the IIHF still is focused on engaging with us and I think we want to have a meeting at some point in the not too distant future." He added, "I know it remains a priority for the players association, but having said that, we are very comfortable with not going over there." In St. Louis, Tom Timmermann noted Bettman "wouldn't put a deadline on when a decision had to be made, other than that eventually schedules have to be drawn up" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/25). Bettman said of the challenges the Olympics pose to the NHL, "We can’t market (it) at all, and that’s part of the problem and why it’s so disruptive. We’re basically shut down for the three weeks, because the Olympics in the five times we went wouldn’t let us do anything. Wouldn’t even acknowledge that we have NHL players playing in the Olympics.” He added, "If they would (allow us to market), that should be a precondition to even focusing on whether or not it’s worth the disruption” (“Hockey Night in Canada,” Sportsnet, 1/25).
BUILDING A PLATFORM: In Buffalo, Lance Lysowski wrote the NHL is "one step closer to creating a platform that will allow players to report abusive behavior." Bettman revealed further details about a "hotline that will allow reports to be filed over the phone or online and will be operation in 'a few months.'" It "will be accessible in multiple languages and whistleblowers can choose to file the report anonymously." The league's initiative also includes a "diversity and inclusion council," which Bettman will co-chair with Sabres co-Owner Kim Pegula. The NHL also is "implementing annual mandatory training for coaches and executives, which will focus on 'counseling, consciousness raising, education and training on diversity and inclusion.'" The program is "expected to be in place" in time for the NHL Draft or before training camps open in September (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/24). Bettman said diversity and inclusion is something the league has been "working on for years, and it’s something that has been a priority for us and (NHL Exec VP/Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs) Kim Davis." Bettman: “This is an effort we’re going to continue to work at very hard. There have been a couple of incidents that at least made me feel that there are things we can do even better. Whether it’s a hotline or a tip line. Whether it’s training and counselling for all of our executives, especially our coaches" (“Hockey Night in Canada,” Sportsnet, 1/25).
