NHL Board of Governors Talking Expansion and Rule Changes This Week

Potential expansion to Las Vegas and Quebec City will be discussed at the NHL Board of Governors meeting this week in Pebble Beach, Calif. However, there will be no vote at the meeting, according to NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.

The Board of Governors is scheduled to meet Monday and Tuesday.

"We are planning to report to the [Board of Governors] Executive Committee, and then to the Board, on the status of our review and evaluation of the expansion applications," Daly said. "There won't be any definitive actions taken on expansion."

Prior to the start of the season, the Board's Executive Committee heard presentations from representatives for the Quebec and Las Vegas markets. The Executive Committee will meet Monday to discuss the presentations before bringing the discussion to the main meeting later in the afternoon.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said the League has no set timetable for the expansion process, stressing that any new team or teams would not start play before the 2017-18 season.

If the Executive Committee recommends expansion in any form, the full Board would then vote on the proposal. A three-quarter majority is required for passage.

The Executive Committee is Murray Edwards (Calgary Flames), Jeremy Jacobs (Boston Bruins), Peter Karmanos Jr. (Carolina Hurricanes), Craig Leipold (Minnesota Wild), Ted Leonsis (Washington Capitals), Henry Samueli (Anaheim Ducks), Ed Snider (Philadelphia Flyers), Larry Tanenbaum (Toronto Maple Leafs), Jeff Vinik (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Rocky Wirtz (Chicago Blackhawks).

"The Executive Committee's review and input is always important," Daly said. "But I don't expect it to be out of the ordinary for things ultimately going to the Board."

The Board of Governors also is expected to discuss an early projection for the 2016-17 NHL salary cap. The salary cap for this season is $71.4 million, up from $69 million the previous season.

In addition, the current compensation policy for executives and coaches signed away from another team will be discussed with the potential for modification or elimination.

Dissatisfaction with the policy stems from a team receiving draft-pick compensation for a coach or general manager who is no longer employed but under contract.

Any changes to the policy, whether it's modified or eliminated, aren't expected to take effect until at least Jan. 1, one year after it was instituted.

The Board is expected to hear reports on the progress of 3-on-3 overtime and the coach's challenge, the two major rule changes for this season. A major point of discussion is expected to be in regard to goal reviews. There has been a push from some general managers to change the current system and have reviews conducted by the Hockey Operations department in Toronto instead of by the referee who made the original call using a tablet to review it at the arena.

Daly said the Governors will not consider any changes to the current rule, but discussion, and perhaps a recommendation for further study, would take place.