Who thinks Gary Bettman has ruined the NHL?

I think Gary Bettman should be fired but the Owners love him because he is getting what the owners want the hard way at the expense of the fans. Some fans in non-tradintional teams may not come back. Thanks Gary for ruining the league

All Bettman does is represent the wishes of his bosses, the NHL owners. It's like blaming a real estate agent because their client put a poor offer in on your house.

Anybody who blames Bettman for the problems in the NHL is probably a moron, and the fact that they think 1 man could "ruin" the National Hockey League is both befuddling and disturbing to me. It's just not that simple.

Also, 2 lockouts have occurred on his watch regardless of what happens this year. This year would be the third lockout under his commisioner-ship. Additionally, Bettman has been the commissioner of the NHL since I was an infant, and probably knows what he is doing.

The labour unrest and greedy owners were there before Bettman was hired. The league's desire to expand southward was there before Bettman was hired. He was brought in specifically to handle both of these issues. The Southern expansion went about as well as could be expected, and the first two lockouts did well with the labour unrest (I mean, the players are OK with continuing on in the deal that the owners supposedly "won" last time, that sounds like a previously happy labour force). All of this along with a track record of expanded visibility and revenues, especially in the States but also in Canada.

I'd say he's done an alright job overall, and while he does deserve responsibility for the first two lockouts, this more-and-more probable third lockout is more due to his bosses just being incredible dipshits this time around than anything he's doing as a strategy.

He was hired to serve his 30 bosses wishes (okay before Bettman there were 24 teams so he got hired by 24 bosses). He does just that....his stated goals were to increase tv revenue (just signed a 10 year $2 BILLION deal to televise games just in the U.S., Canada based teams have a seperate contract through CBC). Expansion gave the 24 owners hundreds of millions in expansion fee revenues. Keep in mind Bettman was the driving force behind the NBA getting a salary cap (albeit a "soft" cap) out of their NBAPA. So should we be surprised he locked out NHL players to get the owners a cap in hockey? The NHL owners were commited to getting more teams in the southern U.S. before they even hired Bettman and that was one of their reqwuirements for him to initiate upon taking the job.....we may not like it or agree but he accomplished his mandates. People in Canada hate him because they accuse him of "Americanizing" the game....had he not gotten the owners to agree to a susidy program for struggling franchises in Canada they would have lost more teams than they did because the dollar was so weak at that time in Canada. He literally saved hockey in Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and probably Ottawa (Montreal and Toronto will never be in jeopardy of relocating). He is pompous...he is arrogant....he lacks passion and understanding of the fans....he does a lot of things that generally piss off the fans and players but in the end game he has done a masterful job for the 30 guys who pay him. I dont like him or his smug attitude and attention seeking but then again I dont pay him....if I did I would be thrilled with the job he has done. The owners are the ones ruining the NHL....they have put their bottom line ahead of everything (especially the fans) instead of the way it used to be where guys bought franchises not to invest but to humor themselves and own something most couldnt dream of. It was at one time a game of passion where owners wanted to win above all else but today the corporate system demands they find ways to make hundreds of millions no matter the cost to the consumer, we cant blame Bettman for meeting their expectations. This falls directly on the owners, once they get their new deal the first thing they will do is find every possible way to circumvent the new system just like the did after stealing a season from us fans under the false "cost certainty" contract that was supposed to save them from themselves. Bettman is just the minion in this unfortunate situation even if he is an @ss in our eyes.

Honestly he is doing what the owners want. The last lockout I don't really hold against him, the NHL NEEDED a salary cap as the owners knew they couldn't trust/police themselves. This one though I think sounds totally unneeded.

hi invoice I ought to assert you hit it on the pinnacle. Its the infighting that has led to an excellent style of the subject concerns. If the NHLPA and NHL ought to artwork at the same time slightly greater think of the probabilities. i'm surprisingly specific Bowman might on no account take the area Commissioner, he's clever adequate to renowned that it would be like a lawyer attempting to preform recommendations surgical operation. specific he ought to gown the section and carry the equipment and look solid, yet would not know what to do with them. there's a Board of Governors and NHLPA obtainable, no longer plenty Bettman can do on his very own beside be a scapegoat thank you

No. Just read this, it says what I have been saying and more

http://spectorshockey.net/blog/in-defense-of-gary-...