The NHL informed both the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association and the National Women’s Hockey League that it is not in position to operate a women’s league in the foreseeable future, but also indicated that if the two entities come together with a plan, the league would be inclined to participate.
It is unknown at this time what that level or nature of involvement would be from the NHL.
This is consistent with recent comments by NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly on the March 22 edition of Hockey Central.
“We’re very supportive of the women’s game, we’re supportive of it being played at an elite level, the highest level," Daly said. "But we also understand that to some extent that women’s hockey at its elite level is somewhat fractured, continues to be somewhat fractured and that’s a situation that I’m sure will remedy itself with time. But our position is let it remedy itself and then we can evaluate what that means and how we move forward.”
Sources say that NWHL Commissioner Tyler Tumminia and PWHPA Operations Consultant Jayna Hefford have held discussions about what a partnership could look like and how it could work.
These conversations will determine what next steps will be for all parties involved.
