NHL preparing for Gary Bettman’s retirement in “a couple years”

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He is a legend who kept hockey from becoming a lacrosse tier league and paved the way for them to get a massive US TV deal by building the league into a legitimate national property across the USA, but people hate him.

The reality is that the league was a Mickey Mouse shitshow before he came along, and if he or an equivalent minded person never took over, we'd likely have 1 or 2 Canadian teams max. The Canadiens would have relocated to Poughkeepsie, and Ottawa would have folded after moving to Anaheim and then relocating to whatever that European league is called that Tony Finger (or was it Tony Hand?) lit up.
 
A couple years is a long time in advance to stock up on balloons, streamers and other party favors. Though they will need a lot of them.

He is a legend who kept hockey from becoming a lacrosse tier league and paved the way for them to get a massive US TV deal by building the league into a legitimate national property across the USA, but people hate him.

The reality is that the league was a Mickey Mouse shitshow before he came along, and if he or an equivalent minded person never took over, we'd likely have 1 or 2 Canadian teams max. The Canadiens would have relocated to Poughkeepsie, and Ottawa would have folded after moving to Anaheim and then relocating to whatever that European league is called that Tony Finger (or was it Tony Hand?) lit up.
Before this ignorant troll took over the NHL was ahead of the NBA.

Then what happened?

You don’t have to make shit up for a purpose no one but you could possibly understand.
 
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The negative narrative around this guy is lame.

He's done an incredible job for both the league and players.

It blows my mind how people can bitch and moan on cue like a bunch of puppets.
 
For continuity sake, I would have no problem with it being Bill Daly. He's been Bettman's right-hand man for however long now, and is a whole lot more likeable that Bettman is.

Now, if the league wants to instil someone else with a different vision and take the sport in a different direction than Bettman has, then I'd be for that.
 
Fair warning to anyone super excited at the prospect of a post-Bettman NHL....

Baseball fans were stoked when the MLB moved on from Selig.

So were NBA fans with Stern. Then they got stuck with the pushover Silver and the league isn't any better for it.

If you are an owner, Bettman has done a hell of a job. How much the league has expanded and grown new markets that people completely laughed and scoffed at initially (California and Florida for example), the amount revenues have increased, and franchise values have increased since the cap system was instituted is great. It doesn't mean everything is better for the fan sitting at home and watching hockey on TV but for what his job is, he certainly has done great.

Florida was done before he became commissioner.
 
I mean this isn't a surprise right? I actually posted this when he signed his last extension:


His contract ends after the 2027 season when he'll be 75, did anyone think he'd be extending? Daly will be 63 in 2027 so I imagine they'll go to someone younger than him?

edit-I didn't expect linking to threads would look so janky, guess it's the forum update?
No, they wont. They had introduced Daley slowly in diffrent processes, cause they know Bettman is that very known face.

He will sit for like 5 years. THEN maybe an ex NHLer comes in. My bet is Shannahan. Or a more buissness minded person.
 
No, they wont. They had introduced Daley slowly in diffrent processes, cause they know Bettman is that very known face.

He will sit for like 5 years. THEN maybe an ex NHLer comes in. My bet is Shannahan. Or a more buissness minded person.
My guess is they'll try to find another Bettman -- someone with a non-hockey sports business but not team management background
 
So were NBA fans with Stern. Then they got stuck with the pushover Silver and the league isn't any better for it.



Florida was done before he became commissioner.

As were all the California teams.

The Kings had been around since 1968, the Sharks in '92, and they announced the Ducks that same year but would start playing in '94.
 
He is a legend who kept hockey from becoming a lacrosse tier league and paved the way for them to get a massive US TV deal by building the league into a legitimate national property across the USA, but people hate him.

The reality is that the league was a Mickey Mouse shitshow before he came along, and if he or an equivalent minded person never took over, we'd likely have 1 or 2 Canadian teams max. The Canadiens would have relocated to Poughkeepsie, and Ottawa would have folded after moving to Anaheim and then relocating to whatever that European league is called that Tony Finger (or was it Tony Hand?) lit up.
found Bettman's burner account. Yikes, what a take.
 
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Listening to NHL radio this morning on SXM, Bettman made a big difference when it came to the contracts of coaches and GMs being honored.

Brian Burke told stories (as usual) about people being fired and screwed out of their remaining money.
For example:

Coach gets fired, still has a year on his contract.
"You still owe me $300k."
"Here's $100k, now get lost."

Bettman put a stop to it.
 
If you are an owner, Bettman has done a hell of a job. How much the league has expanded and grown new markets that people completely laughed and scoffed at initially (California and Florida for example), the amount revenues have increased, and franchise values have increased since the cap system was instituted is great. It doesn't mean everything is better for the fan sitting at home and watching hockey on TV but for what his job is, he certainly has done great.
The NHL expanded into California in 1967.
 
I actually think he’s done a pretty good job. The league revenue has gone up significantly under his watch, franchise values skyrocketed, lots of new teams were added, and the league has a hard cap tied to revenues now. Can’t really ask for more from a Commish. Players and owners both have gotten very rich under him.
 
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He's got all the humility and lovability you expect in a commissioner, and even has a super punchable face. He's perfect!
I'm not even kidding! buddies with one of the BoG, definite "old boys club" mentality, deep hockey bloodlines, long career. Just has to be a mouthpiece for the shadow council.
 
A couple years is a long time in advance to stock up on balloons, streamers and other party favors. Though they will need a lot of them.


Before this ignorant troll took over the NHL was ahead of the NBA.

Then what happened?

You don’t have to make shit up for a purpose no one but you could possibly understand.

The NBA exceeded the NHL on it's own merit. It didn't exceed the NHL because Gary Bettman failed to market the league.

Have you heard of someone named Michael Jordan?
 

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