The NHL is bringing its general managers and head coaches together today for a league-wide meeting at 1 p.m., and Kent Hughes and the Canadiens are part of the group getting summoned.
This year’s session will be held on Zoom, a departure from last year’s in-person gathering in Detroit. According to Pierre LeBrun, the switch is meant to make attendance easier and avoid forcing team representatives to travel.
A few big topics are expected to be in the mix. League expansion is likely to surface again, with Houston and Austin still being mentioned as possible landing spots in Texas. Bill Daly recently said the league remains interested in both U.S. markets, which appears to put them further ahead than Quebec City in the expansion race.
The cost of bringing in a new franchise has also soared, now sitting above $2 billion. That marks a major jump from the price tag attached to Vegas when it joined the NHL in 2017.
Another major item on the agenda is the set of new rules being considered for the 2026-27 season. Those changes are expected to be part of the conversation as executives and coaches try to get aligned on what’s coming next.
These annual meetings usually serve as a chance for teams to get on the same page about the league’s direction, especially with an 84-game schedule on the horizon. And with the Zoom setup proving convenient, it could end up being the model going forward.
For now, the league has not released any further details on the full list of topics. There is also a possibility that Kent Hughes and the Canadiens could speak to the media after the meeting.
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