I know I've said this before but I have always prided myself on trying to associate with the "good people in hockey." I always feel lucky that I'm in a sport where so many good people are in very powerful positions. Hockey has really picked up in popularity over the last several years because of the good people who are at the wheel...guiding it.

Today the NHL announced that two such people, Bill Daly and Paul Holmgren, will be presented with the Lester Patrick Award. I will write a separate blog on Holmgren, but first...

On Bill Daly...

Without Bill Daly I am not sure we would would not have missed two years 10 years ago. When when the situation between Bob Goodenow and Gary Bettman reached a boiling point it was Bill Daly and Ted Saskin who managed to negotiate a deal. Carefully buffering for each side and making it all somehow work out.

The reason Bill Daly was such a good person for that job is because of who Bill Daily is. He is real. He comes off as real because he is real. He is a great negotiator but not the kind of negotiator who can't see the other side of the picture and can't find ways around situations often marred with baggage. Gary Bettman and Bill Daly are a team. They work together incredibly well and both fill in the gaps when needed.

Bill Daly is the kind of guy who despite his importance you'll find sitting at a bar, hanging out, and just shooting the breeze about hockey. NHL owners like him. NHL players like him. NHL writers like him. He is the kind of guy who will have a conversation with you. He won't talk down to you. But he is also incredibly sharp and even when talking about the most mundane of things you won't forget how smart the guy is.

Beyond the lockout(s) Bill is quite the ambassador to all sorts of aspects of hockey..from other leagues to the many of the charities the NHL takes on. If I can describe Bill in three words it would be: Twenty four hours.

I have to get ready for the podcast now but I will definitely write more on Paul Holmgren later, and I am working on an update to the Ryan Johansen situation in Columbus.