[News] NHL has begun preparations for Gary Bettman's eventual retirement

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Locke

We're all asking the wrong questions here.

Often exiting executives get Trophies named after them.

What shall the 'Bettman Trophy' be?

I'm thinking 'Most Financially Prudent' maybe the guy that never chips in for team dinners?

The player the league needed but didn't deserve. Called the "I'm Bettman Trophy".

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

It wasn't even a Nazi salute. It was an awkward theatrical gesture to accompany the words, ‘My heart goes out to you.’ There are numerous photos of politicians of every party making the exact same gesture during speeches.

That said, turning a false accusation that Elon Musk is a Nazi into a false accusation that Gary Bettman is a Nazi? That's beyond twisted.

Photos of a particular moment in time. Not videos, which show a completely different picture.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

It wasn't even a Nazi salute. It was an awkward theatrical gesture to accompany the words, ‘My heart goes out to you.’ There are numerous photos of politicians of every party making the exact same gesture during speeches.

There are photos of politicians raising their arm in the air, which in no way is the same thing.

Here's a video to help you understand the difference that isn't possible from still photos.

https://x.com/c_kavanagh/status/1882...689331410?s=46

[Realistic]

Maybe McJesus will do it, he seems to call the shots anyway?!?!

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

This is incorrect. It's done to keep games close and it isn't something refs are taught from day 1, I know a couple CHL refs who would dispute that. It absolutely was introduced by Bettman, Kerry Fraser has admitted as much.

My apologies- game management as it exists in the NHL does not exist for most referees.

But referees are responsible for managing the game. It’s why you try not to call too many penalties one way because things can get out of hand quickly if one team doesn’t feel they’re getting a fair shake.

Once a game is out of control, especially with 14-18 year olds, it can be quite difficult to get things back on track.

[PepsiFree]

“Now that we’ve gotten past the whole nazi gif in the Gary Bettman thread thing, it’d be great if one of the board’s weirdo bigots could come in and defend someone doing a nazi salute”

- literally nobody on this board

[Reggie Dunlop]

Rename the Prince of Wales Conference the Bettman Conference.

Better bookend for the Campbell Conference.

Is the current PoW even aware it exists?

[RoadGame]

I know some are defending Bettman for growing the business, etc. but I once attended a meeting at the invitation of a STH at which Bettman addressed a group of about 100 Flames fans and he was so incredibly sarcastic and disrespectful the entire time I couldn't believe it. It was a long time ago so this wasn't a verbatim quote exactly but one exchange went something like this:

STH asking a question respectfully - might have been about Oilers' draft streak or teams' role in paying for new arenas

GB cuts STH off mid-question, says "if you can tell me [fact related to question] I'll give you a cookie"

STH on the backfoot, guesses at the answer before trying to politely return to his question

GB cuts STH off again "no coooookie for yoooou... next question"

it went on an on like that. GB is a donkey.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Sorry I want to respond to your post but I’m not seeing your name on any Jewish data bases. I don’t want to offend you so I’m trying to do my due diligence here, please advise how you want me to proceed.

In any case your point is quite silly if you’re asking every person to consider everyone’s background before making a simple post. That’s insane and luckily the world seems to be moving away from that type of attitude. Please get some thicker skin.

You smell like someone well practised in the art of being a schrödingers d-bag, and likely a closet far-right fanboy.

I don't buy your act at all, I would bet money you knew exactly what you did.

[browntrout]

Originally Posted by SutterBrother

His relentless pursuit of a salary cap saved every small market in Canada and probably a bunch in the United states.

Every fan from Ottawa to Calgary should squarely look the man in the eye, shake his hand, and say "thank you".

He also made this "more" of an issue by encouraging expansion to the states, where players can now play in low tax states like sunny Florida.It's been turned from a Canadian game to one that benefits American teams from a number of angles.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by RoadGame

I know some are defending Bettman for growing the business, etc. but I once attended a meeting at the invitation of a STH at which Bettman addressed a group of about 100 Flames fans and he was so incredibly sarcastic and disrespectful the entire time I couldn't believe it. It was a long time ago so this wasn't a verbatim quote exactly but one exchange went something like this:

STH asking a question respectfully - might have been about Oilers' draft streak or teams' role in paying for new arenas

GB cuts STH off mid-question, says "if you can tell me [fact related to question] I'll give you a cookie"

STH on the backfoot, guesses at the answer before trying to politely return to his question

GB cuts STH off again "no coooookie for yoooou... next question"

it went on an on like that. GB is a donkey.

I'm willing to bet the question was not a smart one, and "not verbatim" is a bit of an understatement. One of the things I liked about Bettman was that he didn't suffer fools gladly. You knew when he thought a question was dumb, because it usually was.

I have some criticisms around CTE. That to me is far bigger of an issue than personality stuff, or what was and wasn't obtained in contract negotiations. I think there are legit concerns around US v Canadian teams as far as competition goes for players, but some of those are completely out of league control (not taxes -I think the cap could be adjusted to consider that factor).

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Itse

You smell like someone well practised in the art of being a schrödingers d-bag, and likely a closet far-right fanboy.

I don't buy your act at all, I would bet money you knew exactly what you did.

And you’re entitled to think whatever you’d like, I don’t really care. If it makes any difference I denounced the salute he gave in the OT musk thread after it happened. Believe whatever you like about me, just don’t let any facts get in the way of your narrative.

[Locke]

Can I plan his Retirement Ceremony?

I want Bettman to award this season's Stanley Cup, gets roundly booed, goes to centre ice just crucifies Ron McLean for being a cheap hack, drops the Mic at centre ice...hops into a Zamboni and rides off into the sunset.

My invoice is in the mail.

[Displaced Flames fan]

The hate for Bettman is laughable. Certainly not perfect, but the NHL is a much, much, much better league than the one he took over.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

The hate for Bettman is laughable. Certainly not perfect, but the NHL is a much, much, much better league than the one he took over.

I agree, more or less what I've been trying to say.

This is miles better than the previous product and I think he was an instrumental architect in creating the environment to bring that about.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Cut down the preseason games, and expand regular season by 2 games. Go back to 1-8 playoff format, and you can start the season earlier by ending preseason earlier and adding 2 regular season games instead.

The websites and stuff suck, stars are not promoted like other leagues. More premier matchups on Monday or Saturday if that is the day you want to be all in and have more games those days. If you want to do the Winter Festival game, have it be the only game and not at 1PM. Start games on TIME, if teams ar egoing to do these tirbutes and anthems and stuff have it start before the actualy start time. If the start time is 7:00PM the puck needs to be dropped by 7:03 the latest not 7:30 because you need all these pre game crap. No other sport does that.

One thing I love about baseball. If game time is 7:05 the first pitch is thrown out there at 7:05. 7:06 if something creates a delay.

If there is any preamble stuff they tell you to show up earlier.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by browntrout

He also made this "more" of an issue by encouraging expansion to the states, where players can now play in low tax states like sunny Florida.It's been turned from a Canadian game to one that benefits American teams from a number of angles.

Bettman was hired to lead the newly expanded league, but southern expansion wasn't his thing. Most of it was already done before he was even hired.

Even though Anaheim, Florida, and Dallas all started play during Bettman's first full season, they were already announced and planned before he started.


The moves that happened fully under his watch were:

• Quebec to Colorado (1995)
• Winnipeg to Phoenix (1996)
• Hartford to Carolina (1997)
• Nashville expansion (1998)
• Atlanta expansion (1999)
• Columbus expansion (2000)
• Minnesota expansion (2000)
• Atlanta to Winnipeg (2011)
• Vegas expansion (2017)
• Seattle expansion (2021)
• Arizona to Utah (2024)

If we say San Jose is the northern limit of the "sun belt", that means the league added 5 sun belt teams (Phoenix, Carolina, Nashville, Atlanta, and Vegas) and 6 non-sun belt teams (Colorado, Columbus, Minnesota, Winnipeg, Seattle, and Utah) under Bettman's watch.

If you compare the NHL in fall of 1993 to the fall of 2024...

Markets that had NHL teams in 1993 that don't today:

• Quebec City
• Hartford

"Sun Belt" markets that didn't have teams in 1993 that do today:

• Carolina
• Nashville
• Vegas

Other markets that didn't have teams in 1993 that do today:

• Colorado
• Columbus
• Minnesota
• Seattle
• Utah

[Eric Vail]

Good riddance.

He certainly helped the Americanization of the NHL. He did little to help the Canadian game.

As he leaves there is one less Canadian franchise and how many more American ones?

How does growing revenues help the typical fan? It certainly helps players and owners, but typically it means fans paying far more for their NHL fix.

Hockey was far more passionate and a better game before Bettman. It is unlikely ever to return to what we had back then.

[Deegee]

Some of these takes are hilarious. Like the next commissioner is going to relocate the front office back to Canada for the league and start relocating American franchises to Canada.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

Good riddance.

He certainly helped the Americanization of the NHL. He did little to help the Canadian game.

As he leaves there is one less Canadian franchise and how many more American ones?

How does growing revenues help the typical fan? It certainly helps players and owners, but typically it means fans paying far more for their NHL fix.

Hockey was far more passionate and a better game before Bettman. It is unlikely ever to return to what we had back then.

You’re right. It would be better if it was just like the CFL.