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

[22Brad Park]

Definitely do not like that little weasel but he has made the NHL oodles of cash.

 

[Monsieur Miz]

Might be one of the only one but I actually like the guy. Especially since he started embracing his "heel" factor.

 

[Senor Catface]

Palpatine tried that.

It didn't end well

Somehow, Bettman returned.

 

[wolfgaze]

Expect a lot of “Ding dong the witch is dead” across social media when it finally happens.

 

[Cup or Bust]

Florida was done before he became commissioner.

Yeah and both teams struggled financially, especially Tampa Bay, they had ownership issues and were a financial disaster. Bettman was hired to during that expansion era to lead the leagues growth and evolution and he deserves some credit for where the league is today.

 

[Identity404]

Bettman is objectively the GOAT NHL commissioner, but plays the heel across all NHL fan bases. I will miss him for sure.

 

[StlBigFly]

Doug Armstrong.

 

[Nemesis Prime]

I vote George Parros

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

I vote George Parros

As a former player, Parros likely actually cares about the game of hockey, which therefore disqualifies him from being commissioner.

 

[Oneiro]

Praise for Bettman in this thread shows you that people look at errors of commission far more than ommission.

This league, under different leadership, would have been far richer than it is today if they had a true business minded commissioner.

 

[geebster]

Praise for Bettman in this thread shows you that people look at errors of commission far more than ommission.

This league, under different leadership, would have been far richer than it is today if they had a true business minded commissioner.

Errors of Commissioner*

 

[JianYang]

I don't think the nhl did "great" under bettman. He was maybe "okay" but not "great".

What the nhl wanted from him at the beginning was a legitmate national US deal with the networks. They got it with fox.

I think the 3 work stoppages under his watch are big blemishes. 1994 was damaging because they had awoken the largest market in America. Sports Illustrated was also pumping the nhl tires while deflating the NBA.

2005 was ridiculous. A full year lost. That just does not happen. Then yet another stoppage in 2013.

There was also short term vision of taking a TV deal on an obscure network such as oln/versus. For a niche league trying to keep up with the nba's growth, they sure did their best to hide their product from the mainstream sources.

That said, yes the league definitely grew under bettman, and they are a much more professional operation than what he took over, but that was inevitable if the league hired anyone with an ounce of competency for the job.