Gary Bettman wasn’t due back in Las Vegas until late next month.
But the Golden Knights forced the NHL commissioner to come to town earlier than expected. And he may be making multiple visits by the time the Stanley Cup Final is over.
The Knights’ impressive run has not been lost on Bettman, who has been bullish on the market long before Bill Foley wrote the league a $500 million check to become the NHL’s 31st team two years ago. When Bettman was in Las Vegas at the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 11, he pointed to the job Foley, general manager George McPhee and his staff as well as coach Gerard Gallant and his players had done to that point as the Knights set record after record.