What do you think about NHL commissioner Gary Betman?

Question

i personally do not like him i think he should resign or something. In my opinion he is the one who screwed the 05 season. What do u guys think?

Answer 1

He should be EX Commissioner.
He is the worst sports sommissioner in my lifetime.
Since the 05 season, hockey has lost its ESPN contract and I don't know anybody who follows it anymore.
Bettman is an absoute disgrace!

Answer 2

Going against the grain here, I don't like the fact that we lost a season either, but no matter who was/is commish, it had to be done. Hockey doesn't have the revenue that the other sports do, and teams were going to be eliminated. He basically helped save the sport and quite a few of the teams to exist. I praise the owners and found the players to be greedy. Look at it this way, if you are a hocke fan in a small market, you now have a chance to compete every year provided you find the right people to run the franchises. The salary cap makes for a level field and requires skill not only with players, but gm's and owners too. Baseball is now the only major sport without a salary cap and outside of 6-7 teams every stinking year, no one else has a shot.

Also the rule changes have brought us back to the good old days of end to end hockey, and not the clutching and grabbing that made it almost un-watchable. Bettman does not get all of the credit for sure, but IMO he deserves some. Our sport will be better for all of the changes, and that is the bottom line.

Answer 3

I blame the players for the 04-05 season loss 90%, and the owners/Bettman only 10%.

Because NHL players made many many millions before and they didn't want to play for just many millions. Who is lucky enough to get millions just for doing something they love for a few hours a week? And they lost anyway. And now, the NHL is more level - so the big market teams in the US don't get ALL the best players because they have all the money. So now Canada has a chance again.

I think Bettman has definitely improved the NHL's popularity in the US (and no small thanks to Gretzky too) - and perhaps some Canadians blame him for draining hockey out of Canada and into the US. But, with the new structure, I think overall, it will be better for Canada, too. And I like the new rules too. Ties had always bugged me - especially scoreless ties.

Maybe there should be a new commissioner for new blood and ideas, but I give Bettman 8 out of 10.

Answer 4

I can't decide who I like less, Bettman or Goodenow.

And the guy who said the players make millions and shouldn't complain -- don't oversimplify.

The issue of the cap dramatically changes the amount of money a player makes over a lifetime, as well as how much money rooks coming in will see. It means there will be a tremendous disparity in salaries between generations of players, and overall it lowers the salary bar, which in effect penalizes younger players coming up.

Also, let's keep in mind the numbers involved here. Michael Vick of the Falcons made 23 million last year. Forsberg made 11.

Those are the two top salaries of the NFL and NHL respectively.

Now think about how that filters down.

Answer 5

He needs to get fired. Bettman has his head shoved so far up his butt he doesn't know what is happening to the NHL that we all know and love. You cannot keep changing the game and being a little..you-know-what because you cannot handle the responsiblities of your job to take care of the NHL. Everyone...coach or player or fan who has bashed him deserves a cookie and a big high five. Other people need to see the truth about this screwed up commissioner.

Answer 6

I totally agree with you!!!!!!! He knows absoluately NOTHING about hockey!!! He wasted a whole season to discuss the dalary cap and its the stupidest idea I have ever heard of! If teams like Toronto or Detroit can afford to spend $60 million per year in salaries then it's their business!! If Atlanta or Nashville don't have enough money or dedicated fans then they shouldn't be in the NHL! Who really cares if there are only 20 teams and not 30 in the NHL?!!!!

Answer 7

I agree, no matter what he does he will be known as the Comissioner in charge during the 04-05 lockout, what a shame. Time to hang them up and get a Marketing genius in that position, because the game is far too good to basically be ignored for the most part like it is in the states.

Answer 8

He should have resigned the same day the head of the NHLPA did. I like some of the changes he made, But they could've been made without a strike.

Answer 9

I wouldn't want his job....it's a thankless one. Personally, I blame the owners for allowing things to get out of hand and the NHL for not keeping it in check.

Answer 10

I grew up on original 6 hockey. I've been to 5 Stanley Cup finals.

He couldn't find a solution? Billionaires fighting with Millionaires. Made me sick. It's now all about the $$$.

I have'nt been to or watched a game since the strike. I'm voting against them all with my wallet.