NHL sends another message to Donald Trump amid tensions between U.S. and Canada impacting the league

Earlier this month, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman has hinted at the fact that the league could be affected by the current tensions between U.S. and Canada in a CNBC interview.

Bettman had first started pointed out how 25% of the league’s revenue comes from its Canadian clubs. Seven Canadian teams, who perform well, could suffer ramifications for the league depending on the state of Canadian tariffs.

“All players, no matter which country they play in, get paid in U.S. dollars,” Bettman said. “So if the impact of the tariffs is to see the Canadian dollar drop relative to the U.S. dollar, it will make it more difficult and more painful.”

On Wednesday when he met with media following the GMs’ meeting, his stance did not change. When the commissioner spoke about his cross-border league with 25 franchises in the U.S. and seven in Canada, he noted how he unfortunately cannot control the ongoing trade and tariff war between the countries that threatens to upend economic climates in North America and around the world. Bettman addressed it with what could correspond to a message of hope for Trump.

“If the Canadian economy is impacted to the extent that the dollar declines, the Canadian dollar, vis a vis the U.S. dollar, we do everything in U.S. dollars, so that’ll have an impact potentially on our Canadian clubs and (hockey-related revenue),” Bettman said. “But we’re hoping this is a moment in time and we get through this. I’m not weighing in politically.”

Adding: “If we have to make an adjustment, we will. Our hope and our expectation is we’re still on track.”

If you ask me, like Canadians and Americans getting” caught in the middle”, the NHL is dealing with the same fate.

Bettman remains confident in the success of the league as it is projected to exceed revenues of $7 billion in mixed currency for the current 2024-25 season. With most teams playing at 96.7% capacity season to date, the league is also setting record ratings and strong attendance this year.

It’s already been agreed that the salary cap figures for each of the next three seasons will increase with the ceiling going up by record amounts every year. That was before Trump’s return to the White House and the start of the tariffs dispute. Tensions also continue to flare between the nations after Trump also suggested Canada could become America’s ‘51st state’, prompting backlash from the close neighbour and longtime ally.

Let’s hope the tension between the usual allies do not screw things up for the NHL and its huge fanbase. There are seven Canadian teams in the NHL, including the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens.