Gary Bettman

FILE - Hockey Hall of Famer Willie O'Ree, left, waves to the crowd before dropping the ceremonial puck before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers in Boston, Jan. 4, 2020. The first elite Indigenous hockey players played well before Willie O’Ree became the first Black player to skate in an NHL game in January 1958. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Hockey's history shows handful of non-white pioneers

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 06, 2022 12:33 PM EST

FILE- Canada's Sidney Crosby hoists the trophy following his team's victory over Europe in the finals of the World Cup of Hockey finals on Sept. 29, 2016, in Toronto. he NHL and NHL Players’ Association have abandoned plans to hold a World Cup of Hockey in 2024, according to a a joint statement Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, calling it not feasible to hold the tournament as they had hoped in February of 2024. The league and union say they hope to stage it in February 2025 and will continue to plan for that. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Russia-Ukraine war derails World Cup of Hockey plans for '24

By Stephen Whyno Nov. 11, 2022 03:27 PM EST

Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson speaks at the start of the NHL hockey draft in Montreal on Thursday, July 7, 2022. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadiens take Juraj Slafkovsky with top pick in NHL draft

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 07, 2022 07:28 PM EDT

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) sprays water on his face during a timeout against the Florida Panthers during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series Monday, May 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Russians star in NHL playoffs as nation wages war in Ukraine

By Stephen Whyno May. 30, 2022 02:23 AM EDT

Canada's Eric Staal walks to the ice for a men's qualification round hockey game against China at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

IIHF, NHL officials hoping for early deal for 2026 Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 16, 2022 09:09 PM EST

Bettman: NHL going worldwide with revival of Global Series

By Greg Beacham Feb. 04, 2022 07:48 PM EST
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NHL is ready to go worldwide again after two years of coronavirus restrictions and a missed Olympics. Commissioner Gary Bettman...

FILE -Russia forward Yevgeni Malkin seals off the puck from USA defenseman Ryan McDonagh in the first period of a men's ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. NHL players will not take part in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after all. A person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the league is going to withdraw from the Olympics after the regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

NHL announces players won't be allowed to go to Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 22, 2021 10:53 AM EST

FILE -Canada defenseman Shea Weber, left, trips over USA forward David Backes during the third period of a men's semifinal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. NHL players will not take part in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after all. A person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the league is going to withdraw from the Olympics after the regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Column: NHL skips Olympics again, cites COVID-19 uncertainty

By Jim Litke Dec. 22, 2021 03:32 AM EST

Los Angeles Kings' Tobias Bjornfot (7) and Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Quarantine concerns loom over NHL participation in Olympics

By The Associated Press Dec. 14, 2021 05:50 PM EST

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner (90) skates around the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Bettman: NHL still planning to have players go to Olympics

By The Associated Press Dec. 10, 2021 06:42 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2020, file photo, Florida Panthers head coach and former Chicago Blackhawks coach, Joel Quenneville, responds to a question during his first visit back to Chicago as a head coach before an NHL hockey game between the Blackhawks and Panthers. The Blackhawks are holding a briefing Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, to discuss the findings of an investigation into allegations that an assistant coach sexually assaulted a player in 2010. The Blackhawks pledged to release the findings of the investigation, which general manager Stan Bowman, former coach Quenneville and others who were in the organization at the time agreed to cooperate with. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Blackhawks GM resigns, team fined after sexual assault probe

By Jay Cohen And Stephen Whyno Oct. 26, 2021 06:09 PM EDT

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman walks next to Lake Union after taking part in an interview Wednesday, July 21, 2021, during the Seattle Kraken's expansion draft event in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

NHL schedule will include break but no guarantee of Olympics

By Tim Booth Jul. 21, 2021 08:05 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 7, 2020, file photo, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to members of the media in Sunrise, Fla. Bettman says time is running out to reach a deal to send players to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The league, players, International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation continue negotiations. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Bettman casts doubt on NHL players going to Beijing Olympcs

By Stephen Whyno And John Wawrow Jun. 28, 2021 06:19 PM EDT

Predators' Rinne wins Clancy Trophy for leading on, off ice

Jun. 14, 2021 09:42 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne has won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy that annually honors an NHL player for leading on the ice...