Bill Foley, the owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, recently made an appearance on the 32 Thoughts Podcast with Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek. During the podcast, Foley made several predictions about the future of the NHL, including expansion, realignment, and the salary cap. In this article, we will recap and analyze Foley’s predictions.

Expansion

Foley believes that the NHL will eventually expand to 34 teams, with two new teams joining the league in the near future. He did not specify which cities he thinks will get expansion teams, but he did say that the league is looking at several potential locations.

Realignment

Foley also predicted that the NHL will eventually realign its divisions and conferences. He suggested that the league could move to a four-division format, with eight teams in each division. This would allow for more regional rivalries and reduce travel for teams.

Salary Cap

Foley believes that the NHL’s salary cap will continue to increase in the coming years. He noted that the league’s revenue has been steadily increasing, and he expects that trend to continue. Foley also suggested that the league could introduce a “soft cap” system, similar to the NBA’s luxury tax, which would allow teams to exceed the salary cap if they are willing to pay a penalty.

Overall, Foley’s predictions offer an interesting glimpse into the future of the NHL. While it remains to be seen whether his predictions will come true, they do provide some food for thought for fans and analysts alike. Expansion, realignment, and changes to the salary cap could all have a significant impact on the league’s future, and it will be interesting to see how these issues develop in the coming years.