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Gary Bettman announces player tracking coming next year during All-Star Weekend press conference

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Gary Bettman spoke ahead the start of festivities at All-Star Weekend in San Jose. During this press conference with reporters, Bettman hit a variety of topics including the outdoor games for 2019-20, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and the negotiations with the NHLPA on a new collective bargaining agreement.

But the jewel of his press conference was his lengthy discussions on player and puck tracking technology developed by SAP that will show a variety of advanced statistics on the players in real time.

Player Tracking

Starting next season, the NHL will implement player and puck tracking. It will be used in all 31 NHL arenas, and an example of how it works was posted to the NHL’s Twitter account.

The tracking technology will be tested out during the All-Star Game festivities this weekend and it means trackers have been placed in players gear.

One important thing that was pointed out by SportsNet’s John Shannon is that the data won’t be used when it comes to contract negotiations or salary arbitration for players.

Winter Classic opponent

During the 2019 Winter Classic, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the 2019-20 Winter Classic would be played at the Cotton Bowl.

We now know that the Dallas Stars will take on the Nashville Predators in the Winter Classic.

Stadium Series opponent

Bettman also mentioned during this years Winter Classic that the Stadium Series would be played at United States Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium. The Colorado Avalanche will face off against the Los Angeles Kings.

Of note, the Chicago Blackhawks, who seem to play in every outdoor event, are not one of the teams that will appear in the outdoor games.

But Bettman did address the fact that the Hawks might get to host an All-star game in the not too distant future.

Collective Bargaining Agreement

With the collective bargaining agreement ending on September 15, 2022, with the potential to opt out in 2020, the NHLPA and commissioner have begun talks for a new CBA.

According to Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, those talks have been progressing steadily.

It also turns out the players interests and the league’s interests are aligned, and the fact that the NHL was able to course correct in the last CBA means there’s potential for less of a battle or lockout this time around.

Diversity in the League

When asked if he foresaw women running NHL teams one day, Bettman noted he thinks it will happen, especially with the potential for one league if the NWHL and CWHL could sort things out.

I would put the composition and diversity of our executives against any of the other leagues. I think the teams are focused on it. Toronto recently made a hire. I think, in the final analysis, the growth of the women’s game will help fuel interest.

As executives tend to go into sports, among other things, because of the physical income of the sport they love and participate in. Maybe at some point the women’s league situation gets worked out, we can see some robust growth there. We are hugely supportive of the women’s game and women being involved in the men’s game, particularly on the business side. Our clubs know that, and I believe it’s a priority not just in the league office but at the club level.

But Bettman stumbled when asked about specific details about what the NHL would do for Black History Month in February and what other diveristy and inclusion initiatives might look like.

Regular Season Will Open in Prague

Earlier this season, the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers opened their seasons in Gothenburg, Sweden.

To start the 2019-2020 season, Prague is the city where two NHL teams will open their seasons. Those teams have not been announced yet.

Players who will participate in the All-Star Game but not the Skills Competition

Friday morning, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that Sidney Crosby would be unable to participate in the skills competition, but would suit up for the All-Star Game.

This also comes at the same time it was announced Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche would not participate in the skills competition.

Headline photo: @Cotsonika

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