With NHL ownership groups convening on Monday and Tuesday at the Board of Governors meetings in Seattle, pressing topics will be discussed and deliberated.
The meetings always have the potential to be a source of news, with decisions being made about the future of the league.
On Monday's editions of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast and The Jeff Marek Show, Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek touched on what to expect from the meetings.
"(Salary) cap will be something there's no question about that." Friedman said on The Jeff Marek Show. "Draft, World Cup of Hockey, there will be a financial update as always."
That's what's slated on the agenda, but what about topics not covered on there?
"There's certain things to talk about that probably wouldn't be on the agenda." Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. "Things like: Corey Perry, the Marc-Andre Fleury mask, the Pride tape, things like that. I don't necessarily think those would be on the agenda for the governors to vote on or anything, but I think those are the kinds of things (reporters) are going to be asking about."
Here's a look at what could be in store this week in Seattle.
Expansion? Salt Lake City?
Though potential expansion isn't a formal item on the agenda, there is opportunity for Bettman to be asked about it from governors.
One of the potential expansion destinations is Salt Lake City, and though it seems like a realistic option, the timeline is far from certain.
"I think there's always conversation about expansion and where possibly they could be going. The one thing I'm curious about is ... it sure sounds like the 2034 Olympics are going to Salt Lake City, so one of the things I'm curious about was what that means for the timeline of a new arena there," Friedman said on The Jeff Marek Show.
"I think if the NHL wanted to go to Salt Lake City, they could go right now, but I remember ... there was at least some conversation of: 'is it the right time (or) wait until the new arena is built?'"
"I do think the NHL will be there at some point. I just wonder what the timeline of that is going to be."
Houston could also be in the discussion as a potential expansion franchise, and though there was interest in the city from the league's perspective, Friedman says, the bigger question is: is a potential owner willing to pay the expansion fee?
Corey Perry and terminated contracts
The Chicago Blackhawks terminated Corey Perry's contract on Nov. 28 citing "unacceptable" conduct as the reason for letting the forward go.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said the decision to release Perry was "a workplace decision," but he declined to disclose any specifics about the incident that led to that decision.
Two days after the decision was made, Perry released a statement that did not go into details about the reason for release. He did say his "behaviour was inappropriate and wrong."
Perry also said he has started to work with experts in the mental health and substance abuse fields to discuss his struggles with alcohol.
Questions from reporters may arise at the meetings as to the process of the release.
"With Perry, I think a lot of people are looking at it like: 'as long as it doesn't end up being anything that ends up in a court of law, we're willing to respect his privacy," Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast.
"I think a lot of people are thinking about just terminating his contract ... Someone said to me the other day: 'shouldn't he be in the program instead of having his contract terminated?' I think those are the kinds of things that (reporters) are going to be asking about."
Marc-Andre Fleury's mask and Pride tape
Prior to a game against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 24, Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury wore a custom-designed mask for Native American Heritage night.
The NHL initially told Fleury he couldn't wear the mask, according to his agent Allan Walsh. Not only was Fleury threatened with a fine, Walsh said, but the NHL said it would fine the Wild organization as well.
Fleury wore the mask anyway during warmups. One source told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski that no punishment was expected for Fleury or the team for him having worn the mask.
In October, the NHL made the decision to ban Pride tape and specialty jerseys after several players across the league publicly opted out of participating in Pride Night activities, including Ivan Provorov and Andrei Kuzmenko.
Arizona Coyotes defenceman Travis Dermott defied this ruling, using rainbow-coloured tape at the top of his stick for the Coyotes' home opener on Oct. 21.
A few days later, the league reversed its ruling on coloured tape, allowing players to use it during practices and games.
Friedman believes both Fleury's mask and the Pride tape will be a topic of conversation as ownership groups meet.
"With Marc-Andre Fleury and Travis Dermott, it's again the whole situation the league is going through where, as I've talked about on this podcast, I think there are certain things they're afraid of as we are in a world at war, but how can you balance that out with the things that nobody should have a problem with?" Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. "I'm wondering if they have a solution to that."
