Latest news with #GaryBettman


CBC
21 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Bettman says NHL, NHLPA in 'really good shape' on talks for new collective agreement
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the league and its union are in "really good shape" with negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. Speaking ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final rematch between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, he added that this round of talks with NHL Players' Association executive director Marty Walsh are "no comparison" to past CBA discussions. "We are having very constructive, professional, cordial dialogue," Bettman said Wednesday. "We started a little bit later than we had anticipated for a variety of reasons on both sides, so I don't have an announcement to make that we have a deal." The current CBA, which was extended during the COVID-19 pandemic with the NHL's financial situation on shaky ground, is set to expire Sept. 15, 2026. "We have more than a year to go," Bettman continued. "I think we're in really good shape, having really good discussions; we're in a really good place in terms of our relationship." Walsh held a media scrum with reporters after Bettman's availability and called conversations "good" and "ongoing." "It's moving steady, it's moving forward," he said. "I feel good with where we are, and we'll see what happens. It gets complicated at certain times -- any collective bargaining agreement -- but it's not where it was in the past here where you're seeing national disputes between organized labour and companies." Walsh, who took over from former union head Donald Fehr in February 2023, added the league and players are working through "different pulls on both sides." The positive tone is a welcome sign for fans of a league that lost the entire 2004-05 season to a lockout and went through labour disruptions that shortened both the 1994-95 and 2012-13 campaigns. Asked directly on when a deal might be signed, Walsh replied: "We didn't start (negotiations) until April, so a slow start there; I'm not going to give any timeline on that." Olympic question The NHL is set to return to the Olympics next year in Italy. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league doesn't expect the International Olympic Committee or the International Ice Hockey Federation to change its ban on the participation of Russian teams, which means NHLers from that country, as things stand, will be barred from the first Games involving the world's best players since 2014 due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Talking growth Daly said the NHL has received a lot of interest from markets looking for expansion teams -- Atlanta and Houston are believed to be on the list -- but it won't be going through a formal process to add to its 32 clubs. "If somebody wants to essentially apply for an expansion franchise and has all the requisite elements that we would look for in an expansion franchise, we would raise it with the board of governors and see if they have any interest," Daly said. "There are some people we've talked to more than others, but there's a lot of interest, which I think we're gratified with."


Time of India
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Gary Bettman sparks outrage with ‘abhorrent, disgusting' remark as 2018 World Juniors sexual assault trial nears key stage
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media prior to Game One (Credit: Getty Image) As the hockey world turned its focus to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman found himself at the center of a firestorm. While he touched on expected topics like CBA talks, taxes, and possible league expansion, it was his remarks about the 2018 World Juniors sexual assault trial that truly caught attention. NHL faces fresh criticism amid trial tensions The trial involves five former Team Canada players, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, and Callan Foote, accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a London, Ontario hotel room in 2018, as the court gears up for final arguments, the hockey world watches closely, and Bettman's words have only added fuel to the fire. Fans online quickly responded, with some arguing that the league should have avoided any comment until after a verdict is delivered. The NHL's leadership has previously faced intense scrutiny over how it handles sexual misconduct cases, most notably in the fallout from the 2010 Brad Aldrich scandal with the Chicago Blackhawks. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media prior to Game One (Credit: Getty Image) Joel Quenneville's return adds to the controversy Adding more context to the backlash is the NHL's recent decision to greenlight Joel Quenneville's return. Once a respected coach, Quenneville resigned in 2021 after being named in the cover-up of the Aldrich incident involving Kyle Beach. As the trial moves closer to a verdict and the NHL season concludes, Bettman's comments have done little to reassure fans. They have exposed deeper concerns about the league's stance on serious allegations and how its leadership handles ongoing legal cases. Read more: Reliving the 25 most unforgettable Stanley Cup clinching moments in NHL history While the judicial system works toward a decision, the spotlight remains not just on the courtroom, but on the league's highest office.


Time of India
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
NHL accelerates Hawk-Eye technology integration for smarter officiating and enhanced viewing
Sony x NHL: Powering the Future of Hockey (Credit: Sony Official) The NHL is taking a major step toward modernizing in-game officiating by expanding its use of Hawk-Eye technology. Developed by Sony, this system, already a staple in tennis, uses high-speed cameras and AI to track the puck and players with millimeter-level accuracy. Commissioner Gary Bettman stressed that adoption will only happen once reliability is proven, ensuring no compromise on the game's integrity. Currently, Hawk-Eye supports the league's SMART replay system, speeding up reviews for challenges and disputed calls. The upgraded version captures 29 skeletal points per player and three on sticks, allowing real-time movement analysis. This data could soon assist referees in determining high-sticks, goal validity, and offside plays with near-instantaneous precision. Multi-layered tech aims to eliminate controversial calls David Lehanski, NHL's executive VP of innovation, revealed that the solution won't rely on a single technology. Instead, it will merge puck-embedded sensors, optical tracking, and jersey-based wearables, and this hybrid approach minimizes blind spots. This is ensuring accurate rulings even in chaotic net-front scrambles or fast breakouts. Hawk-Eye CEO Rufus Hack noted the system's ability to process movements in real time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo This is reducing delays in reviews, and the league plans extensive testing to ensure seamless integration with existing officiating workflows, if successful, it could phase out prolonged video reviews. While increasing call accuracy, addressing long-standing fan frustrations. Sony x NHL: Powering the Future of Hockey | Sony Official Next-gen broadcasts to mirror live arena excitement Beyond officiating, the NHL envisions Hawk-Eye revolutionizing how fans watch games, Sony's ultra-HD cameras, paired with skeletal tracking, will enable dynamic broadcast angles and augmented reality overlays, and Theresa Alesso of Sony emphasized making broadcasts more cinematic. With tighter close-ups and predictive replay angles. This will mimic the intensity of in-arena viewing, and the league also sees potential for interactive features. Such as real-time player speed and shot analytics for streaming audiences, as cameras become lighter and more versatile, broadcasts could adopt drone-like perspectives. That too, without disrupting gameplay, for the NHL, Hawk-Eye isn't just about accuracy. It's about deepening fan engagement in an increasingly digital sports landscape. While eager to adopt technology, the NHL remains cautious. About disrupting the game's pace, Bettman reiterated that any system must be "faster than human judgment". To avoid unnecessary stoppages, the league's phased rollout includes testing in minor leagues and preseason games before full NHL implementation. Read more: Brad Marchand calls Boston exit 'frustrating and stressful' as veteran forward embraces Panthers playoff journey If successful, this could set a new standard for sports technology. This is blending cutting-edge precision with hockey's relentless speed, for now, the focus remains on refining the system. This is ensuring that when Hawk-Eye debuts. Also it elevates both the sport's fairness and its spectacle.


Toronto Star
a day ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
NHL, NHLPA in ‘really good shape' on talks for new CBA: Bettman
EDMONTON - NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the league and its union are in 'really good shape' with negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. Speaking ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final rematch between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, he added that this round of talks with NHL Players' Association executive director Marty Walsh are 'no comparison' to past CBA discussions.


Washington Post
a day ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Gary Bettman says NHL-NHLPA talks on a new CBA are 'in really good shape'
EDMONTON, Alberta — Negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement are progressing well, though there is no timeline on reaching a deal, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said Wednesday. Bettman, at his annual state of the league address prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, said the sides are 'having very constructive, professional, cordial dialogue.' Talks did not begin until April , and there is still quite some time until the current CBA expires in September 2026.