S3 Ep3: Inside the NHL’s Next Chapter: Bill Daly on Expansion, the Cap, and Change

John Shannon and Daren Millard are joined by NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly on 100% Hockey for a wide-ranging conversation about the business of the league and some of the biggest issues shaping its future.

Before Daly joins the show, John and Daren work through the early headlines of the NHL season, including Igor Shesterkin scoring the first goalie goal in New York Rangers history, Matthew Knies making an immediate impact in his Columbus debut, the latest surrounding Aleksander Barkov, and the early questions facing Edmonton.

Daly then joins the conversation to discuss the NHL’s new shortened training camp and preseason format, why the league doesn’t view the condensed schedule as a player health or conditioning concern, and the adjustment teams are making as they transition into the new structure.

The discussion turns to the business of hockey, including the NHL’s rising salary cap and the changing financial environment around the league. Daly explains the transition away from the flat-cap years and offers his perspective on how the league’s economics continue to evolve.

John, Daren and Daly also debate the increasing importance of no-trade and no-move clauses in player contracts before looking toward the possibility of future NHL expansion, the level of interest from prospective markets, and the importance of ensuring the league has enough talent to support additional teams.

The conversation concludes with a broader look at how the NHL tells its stories, the importance of showcasing the personalities behind the players, and why human-interest storytelling remains an important part of growing the game.