Meeting with Daly

Just got back from the meeting with NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. Bettman was a no-show, although his attendance had not been set in stone from the beginning. Frankly, this was better. Daly, in my opinion, is a better communicator and does a good job of clearly stating the league’s view, whether or not you agree with what he says.

Most of the conversation was off the record, although nothing shocking or ground-breaking was said. I did get a chance to ask an on-the-record question. I thought it would be interesting to get his take on my new job, and the idea that unfiltered reporting would appear on a team- (and league-)sponsored website. The fact that I’m posting the answer here can be seen as a) interesting or b) self-serving, so I hope you see it as more of the former and less of the latter.

Question: My situation is one in which the Kings have hired me to provide unfiltered coverage of the team, just as I would have for the newspaper. Knowing that there will be some stories and issues that won’t put the team or the league in the best light, do you have any thoughts about a job such as this one?

DALY: “I think there’s been an evolution of thought on that. Obviously, as a league, we’re interested in having people cover our sport and being able to communicate and offer content, around our sport, to our fans, both existing fans and new fans. I think we recognize, and have come to recognize over time, that an important element of that is independence in reporting. I think it builds to the credibility of coverage and, as a league, I think we’re generally supportive of independence in reporting.”