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Originally Posted by FlamesNightmare
Okay I jest that he never wanted the flames to get draft picks. I think I heard somewhere (maybe on reddit) he's all about favoring "America", or the league having an pro-american bias.
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His mandate is to grow the game and make the league more money. His 'Pro America' stance does this. Outside of maybe another team in southern Ontario (which the Leafs will fight against), there is not another landing spot for a Canadian market. Quebec can't support a team, and neither can Halifax. So there isn't an 'anti-Canadian' bias - there is simply a 'grow the game' bias.
Simply looking at the valuation of franchises now, along with the cable contracts, is evidence that Bettman has been really good at his job. If not for him, Calgary and Edmonton would have likely lost their teams by now, Winnipeg would have never returned, and Ottawa would probably be in danger as well, if not gone by now.
As a Canadian hockey fan, I love Gary Bettman. I really don't see a reason to dislike him at all.