Bettman touts NHL's record revenues as part of Stanley Cup Final presser

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly held their annual press conference Wednesday prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The two executives touched on a variety of topics regarding the state of the league. Here are the key subjects.

Record revenue

Bettman said the NHL is raking in record revenues this season, and that the league is on track for a total in excess of $5.2 billion. The introduction of the expansion Seattle Kraken, a new television rights deal with ESPN and TNT, and a full season of fans attending games helped provide the financial boost.

Despite record returns, Bettman said the league is still erasing debts from the pandemic. As a result, the salary cap won't see normal increases for another two or three years.

Next season's schedule

Puck drop for the 2022-23 regular season is set for Oct. 11.

Bettman also confirmed next year's special events as the league unveiled logos for each spectacle. The Winter Classic will be played at Fenway Park between the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Florida Panthers will host the All-Star Game in February. And the Stadium Series contest will take place in Carolina.

World Cup of Hockey

Fans yearning for international best-on-best hockey appear likely to get their wish come February 2024. Bettman and Daly said the league is "very optimistic" to stage a tournament two winters from now.

Cup won't go to Russia

The NHL won't send the Stanley Cup to Russia or Belarus for players to have their day with the trophy this offseason due to the war in Ukraine. Bettman said the league could arrange a makeup date down the road.

This year's final features several prominent Russian players, including Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Mikhail Sergachev. Valeri Nichushkin is the lone Russian on Colorado's roster.