Bettman sees value in Olympic break after 4 Nations success

Associated Press

Tim Reynolds

Published October 07, 2025 • 3 minutes read

File – From left, Ron Hainsey, NHLPA assistant executive director, Marty Walsh, NHLPA executive director, Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner and Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner, pose for photos after a joint press conference ahead of the NHL Hockey Project, June 27, 2025 in Los Angeles. Photo by Damian Dovargan /Access

Sunrise, Fla. — Commissioner Gary Bettman isn't the biggest fan of taking a nearly three-week break midway through the NHL season so players could compete in the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Advertisement 2

Contents of the article

Still, he obviously sees the value.

Contents of the article

Bettman spoke Tuesday in the season-opening game between the Florida Panthers, who raised their second straight Stanley Cup banner, and the Chicago Blackhawks. He made it clear again that he knows what NHL players can do on the Olympic stage for the game.

“I think it's going to be great,” Bettman said between the first and second periods. “This is important for our players. That's why we do this.

“Look, there are a lot of reasons why I'm never excited about what I'm doing a couple of weeks into the season. Changes a lot. But in the balance, I think it's worth it, a) for the exposure, b) for the fan involvement, but c) and most importantly, it is and has always been very important to our players. And that's why we do it.”

Contents of the article

Advertisement 3

Contents of the article

The NHL received a lot of exposure and engagement during its inauguration last season, and the Olympics will obviously be bigger than that tournament.

“We came out of 4 countries on a high level,” Bettman said. “It shows you what our players can do representing hockey and what we believe is the best of the best in international competition.”

In other issues covered by Bettman on Tuesday:

Panther-light fines

The league wasn't thrilled with how the Tampa Bay-Florida game played out on Saturday, with 65 penalties, 13 game misconducts and 312 penalty minutes.

“I think we've made our position clear in terms of our response,” Bettman said. “That's not what plays.”

On Monday, the NHL suspended Tampa Bay forward Scott Sabourin for four games and defenseman JJ Moser for two games for their actions in this game. Additionally, the Lightning organization was fined $100,000 and Lightning coach Jon Cooper was fined $25,000, the NHL said.

Advertisement 4

Contents of the article

“We didn't think what happened was appropriate for a variety of reasons,” Bettman said.

Outdoor Games in Florida

Bettman said ticket sales are “excellent” for the outdoor game played later this season in Florida. The Panthers will host the New York Rangers at Loandepot Park in Miami – the home of the Marlins' Baseball – on Jan. 2 in the Winter Classic, and the Lightning will host the Boston Bruins at Tampa Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1 in a stadium game.

“I think at some point we will have a public sale for the remaining tickets, but so far… the response has been overwhelmingly positive and we're excited to come to Florida with two outdoor games,” Bettman said.

“There are some people who question our sanity, but the combination of being able to prepare the ice in the Loandepot – where we can control the elements until we open the roof – and that we can create a structure in Tampa, we think we'll be fine.”

The Marlins' Loandepot Park has a retractable roof, and that will play a big role in getting this stadium ready for hockey. The air conditioning will be held up-and-up and the Panthers-Rangers game will be played at night with the roof open.

For the Lightning Bruins game at an outdoor stadium in Tampa, the NHL will construct a temporary roof over the ice surface and remove it just hours before the game.