Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz Issues Statement Directed Towards Gary Bettman
Photo credit: Chicago Tribune
With the announcement that the NHL will be raising the salary cap for the next three seasons, Danny Wirtz's latest statement is an endorsement of Gary Bettman.
The NHL and NHLPA announced yesterday that the league's salary cap and cap floor will be raised in the next three years.
Now that escrow has been paid, the NHL can quit penalizing players for a fund they don't even support.
The salary cap total will be raised by an estimated $7.5 million next season, $9.5 million in 2026-2027, and $8.5 million in 2027-2028.
This will be a huge advantage for the Blackhawks, who are still in the process of rebuilding the team from the foundation up.
With the selection of Connor Bedard in the 2023 draft, they have already have found their franchise player. Now, with more money, a rebuild should move swiftly for the Hawks who spent nearly $26 million in free agency.
Danny Wirtz shared his thoughts on the matter with The Athletic's Scott Powers, in what sounded like a full-throated endorsement of the job Gary Bettman has done.
NHL revenue hit a record $6.2 billion last season, as the league also set new marks in attendance and saw a spike in sponsorship revenue, thanks to evolving attitudes on sports betting, helmet decals and showcasing individual players' personalities.
Like other franchises, the Blackhawks have found booming success in the last two seasons, not only because of Connor Bedard.
They've been featured in this year's Winter Classic, which was well-received and had a huge marketing push behind it.
The Blackhawks and Danny Wirtz had a few stumbles at the beginning of the season, but with a new coaching hire in Anders Sorensen, that should be one issue solved for the team.
With a bigger purse to work with, free agency should be exciting for the Blackhawks as they will undoubtedly look different in 2025-2026.
Could we see a competitive Blackhawks squad? A healthy Laurent Brossoit would help.
GM Kyle Davidson and Danny Wirtz should exclusively focus on the blue line and top six with this money. If possible, sign Ryan Donato as well.
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