Daly: Lester Patrick honor reflects NHL as whole

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly admittedly is uncomfortable with being singled out for an individual award as prestigious in hockey as the Lester Patrick Trophy. It's not his style to be front and center accepting praise and applause for a job well done.

That's why when Daly steps on stage to accept the Lester Patrick Trophy at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner on Dec. 4, he will do so with the NHL and the people he represents in mind.

After all, Daly said, he wouldn't even be considered for such an honor without the backing of Commissioner Gary Bettman and the owners he works for.

"Obviously it's a tremendous honor, but it's also a very humbling one in the sense that I feel like I'm more accepting as a representative of the National Hockey League, our owners, our commissioner, in terms of their priority to grow hockey in the United States," Daly said. "I fortunately have the privilege of getting to execute on that priority for them. So it's a tremendous honor, but it's really one for the League as much as for me."

After eight years as the NHL's chief legal officer, Daly became the NHL's first deputy commissioner on July 22, 2005. He took the job without any expectations, he said.

"Your job responsibilities evolve over time," Daly said. "My relationship with Gary has been key to my success at the League. I think in particular with Gary, but really with everybody on the leadership team here, they're all selfless and they'll all work for one goal, and that's the growth of hockey. I think we've been pretty successful at it."

Daly has been at the forefront of the NHL's recent success as he has helped institute change over the past decade.

He has helped guide the League through some of its toughest days, the lockouts in 2004-05 and in 2012-13, only to watch it come out stronger than ever, with a better product on the ice and a financial system tailored toward giving all 30 teams a chance to grow and succeed.

The NHL set a record for revenue last season.

"We as a league have never been stronger," Daly said. "We've never had a better season than we had last year, and that's due to a variety of things; first and foremost the quality of the product on the ice, but also the financial framework that we've been able to build around the game that gives our clubs an opportunity to be successful both financially and on the ice. That has made the game really strong and has given us a strong foundation to continue that growth into the future, and that means at all levels."

As part of Daly's responsibilities he also oversees the NHL's relationship with USA Hockey, College Hockey Inc., the American Hockey League and the United States Hockey League. He said being part of a leadership group that has helped grow the sport of hockey in the U.S. is his greatest accomplishment.

"It's a recognition of the National Hockey League and all the National Hockey League has done to grow the sport in this country, and certainly it has done a lot," Daly said. "That's both with our objective to grow hockey, but also our ownership's commitment to grow hockey in the United States and their financial commitment and willingness to support initiatives with USA Hockey and work closely with USA Hockey. Again, it's commitment, and it's one they've really allowed me to execute on."

The fact that the Lester Patrick Trophy honors "outstanding service to hockey in the United States" resonates with Daly as much as the previous recipients of the award, including Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, Bobby Clarke, Ed Snider, Fred Shero, Lou Lamoriello, Mario Lemieux, Scotty Bowman and Wayne Gretzky.

"You're talking about the biggest names in hockey," Daly said. "Certainly it's an honor for me to be in that group. Again, humbling."

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