NHL, general managers hold in-person meetings for first time since 2020

MANALAPAN, Fla. -- NHL general managers met in person Monday for the first time in more than two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss the state of the game and learn about inclusion principles and training programs the League has been implementing.

Eleven of the 32 general managers here this week were not in the meetings that took place from March 2-4, 2020, the last time the GMs got together in person before the pandemic. Meetings since were held on Zoom.
"I just spoke about that with (NHL Commissioner) Gary Bettman at the conclusion of the meeting, it's so much better than a Zoom call, particularly with 11 new faces in a room," NHL senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said. "It was really refreshing to meet as a group today, see a face and hear a voice. There's lots of value to that."
Bill Armstrong (Arizona Coyotes), Kyle Davidson (Chicago Blackhawks), Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Tom Fitzgerald (New Jersey Devils), Kent Hughes (Montreal Canadiens), Bill Zito (Florida Panthers), Pat Verbeek (Anaheim Ducks), Patrik Allvin (Vancouver Canucks) and Joe Will (San Jose Sharks, acting GM) each experienced his first in-person meeting. Ron Hextall (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Ron Francis (Seattle Kraken) were back with new teams.
"I feel like when you're on the outside, you probably don't think of a lot of the little details that go into running a league, running a sport, ensuring the quality of the game," Hughes said. "There were a number of different presentations of topics that were addressed, and I thought they were good topics. They were well presented and debated to the extent there was debate required. It was good."

The GMs heard reports on the health of the League, which included statistics on scoring being up this season to historical levels.
The NHL is on pace to average 6.2 goals scored per game, the highest rate in 25 years. Scoring is up from 5.9 goals per game through the first quarter of the season (Nov. 28), projecting to be the largest goals-per-game increase from the first quarter to the end of the season in 30 years.
Even-strength goals account for 78 percent of the scoring, which is tied for the second-highest percentage in the expansion era behind the 79 percent scored in the 1972-73 season. By comparison, 61 percent of the goals scored in 2005-06 were at even strength.
There have been 563 lead changes, and 41 percent of wins this season have been comeback victories, each top-five in NHL history. Thirty-three games have had a lead change in the last 10 minutes of the third period, one short of tying the NHL record of 34 in 1982-83.
"We're in a good place," Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic said. "I don't think it's ever been this exciting with comebacks everywhere, games right to the wire, a lot of lead changes. I think if you're a fan of the game, you're excited right now."
Several GMs said the most interesting part of the meeting was the report on the "Respect Hockey" initiative.
The presentation was given by Kim Davis, the NHL's senior executive vice president of social impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs, and former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, who co-founded the Respect Group, an anti-harassment organization the League partnered with in December to develop an online training tool focused on anti-bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination.
Davis moderated a panel discussion that featured Kennedy and general managers Kyle Dubas (Toronto Maple Leafs), Kevin Cheveldayoff (Winnipeg Jets) and Jim Nill (Dallas Stars).
"I think that's the biggest area of growth and struggles that we have, fear we may have around these issues, is our ability to have these conversations," Kennedy said. "We spoke in front of all the GMs, and it was questions answered. We talked about the training, but we talked about the issues in general. We talked about how important it is for the game of hockey and how we need to get up to speed with where society is in regards to these issues."

The Jets, including all of their players, coaches, executives and entire staff, have completed the online training course designed by the RESPECT Group. The remaining six Canada-based teams will complete it by June 30, and the program will be streamlined to be compliant for all 25 U.S.-based teams. They will be required to complete it before next season.
"I thought that was the highlight of the day for me," Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon said. "It was insightful, it was real. It was a great message and really impactful for everybody in the room today. That was far more meaningful than it would be on a Zoom call."
The meetings conclude Tuesday, when the NHL is expected to provide updates on the salary cap for next season and the future of the World Cup of Hockey, which is on track to be held in 2024.
The GMs could also have a discussion with the NHL about potentially extending the salary cap into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, what that might look like and the impact it would have. There is currently no salary cap in the playoffs.