NHL reportedly nervous about 'Heated Rivalry' season 2 and its fictional commissioner story line

Gary Bettman previously stated he binge-watched series in one night and described it as 'fun' and 'very compelling'

National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman and league executives are reportedly bracing for backlash ahead of season 2 of Heated Rivalry.

The upcoming season is expected to introduce Major League Hockey commissioner Roger Crowell, a fictional league executive whose handling of the romance between hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov may not sit well with viewers.

The report notes that while Crowell is not directly based on Bettman, fans could still draw comparisons between the fictional commissioner and the real-life NHL boss, especially as the show continues exploring LGBTQ representation in professional hockey.

Outsports cited comments from NHL Senior Executive Vice President Kim Davis, who recently acknowledged the league was surprised by the scale of Heated Rivalry’s cultural impact. Davis reportedly said the NHL now sees the need to retain new fans brought into hockey through the hit series.

Season 2 is expected to focus on the fallout after Shane and Ilya’s relationship becomes more public, mirroring storylines from Rachel Reid’s sequel novel The Long Game. In the books, the league commissioner becomes heavily involved as tensions rise around the visibility of gay players in professional hockey.

The first season of Heated Rivalry became a breakout success following its 2025 debut, earning praise for its portrayal of a secret romance between rival hockey stars and sparking wider conversations about LGBTQ inclusion in hockey culture.

Bettman himself previously revealed he binge-watched the series in one night and described it as “fun” and “very compelling,” even while acknowledging the show’s more explicit content.