Tough news for Krug, and yes, some welcome cap relief for the Blues. But his reunion with Claude Julien is on hold.
I read in the trade forum Travis Konecny is asking for $10 million per on his next contract; though that's likely a negotiating ploy. He is one of my favorite non-Bruin players.
Those numbers for the NHL do bode well for Bettman. And yes, I think he's cool with the flak fans give him. I remember during the Cup in the bubble, fans were joking they should've piped in the boos when he presented the Cup.
As for the work stoppages, Bettman has never had a problem playing the long game. It cost the league an entire season, but the league is better for it (as are the owners, Bettman's bosses).
Working in music, it's been the opposite. From Napster, to iTunes, to YouTube, to Spotify - artists have gotten shorter shrift with each new entity, and the business model is more top-heavy than it's ever been. Some have even lamented had they played hardball alongside Lars Ulrich fighting Napster 25 years ago (instead of ridiculing him), things would be different.
Of course that's speculative; but Bettman's insistence on "cost certainty" and his hard cap has really benefited the on-ice product, imo.