I hear a lot of people ripping on Bettman who would you suggest as the new commisioner? I supported Bettman for a long time I think the lockout needed to happen, the salary cap is good, salaries were getting way out of control. The new rules open up the ice and make the game more exciting to the casual fan and first time viewer. But the TV contract with VS is a joke, and the league markets Crosby and Ovechkin as the future of the league and must see acts but then teams in the west (who need the most help btw) only see these players once every 3 years. What does the league need to do to get back on track and who should be the second commish?
2007-01-31 18:11:32 · 7 answers · asked by needingajob 3 in Sports ➔ Hockey
The league needs to get the schedule fixed up a little bit better, and then work incredibly hard to get the product marketed correctly. The game is very entertaining IMO, and the talent level has never been better. There will be no magic pill to make the NHL a big sport in the US. It will be something that will take a fair bit of time (5-10 years minimum), but the ground work needs to be put in place right now.
As for the second commissioner, I think Bill Daly is the perfect choice. He played a huge role in crafting the current CBA, and he has a good relationship with Ted Saskin. Plus, he's a more endearing character as opposed to Gary Bettman, so I think the fans would accept him moreso than Bettman. I think most former players would be horrible choices for the commissioner position as they would not necessarily be talented at growing the game. However, they would be very well suited in other roles in the NHL office. For example, Colin Campbell's current position as disiplinarian.
2007-02-01 00:41:29 · answer #1 · answered by rodneyinglis 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Where do you even begin with the problems of the Bettman era? Let's start with the latest. Moving the league's All-Star game, which featured attention-grabbing young megastars, to midweek on the Versus Network – as opposed to NBC on a weekend. He claimed it would allow Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin to own the sports landscape, unlike some crowded weekend. A lot of good that did.. We all saw the miserable TV ratings of the game this year.
Now to this scheduling mess. Bettman says that it was geared to create more rivalries between divisional teams. I'm sorry, but really I'm just bored. Having season tickets to the Stars.. I don't want to see the Phoenix Coyotes over and over again. You want to sell tickets? Bring Crosby and the Pens or Ovechkin and the Caps more than once every three years. This Eastern Conference cycling is ludicrous. The non-obsessive hockey fan is going to want to see the next big thing. The casual fan sees the same teams coming to town every night, they won't come! And the total bypass of a complete division.. Please! This serves no purpose other than cutting travel costs for a few cheapskate owners. Bettman admits teams like Dallas have a tough schedule with all their time zone changes. So does he lobby for the majority when 22 franchises voted to go back to the old scheduling system? No. Thanks a lot Gary.
These new jerseys that are going to be effective next season already have fans carrying a few extra pounds complaining. I have the Western Conference All-Star jersey and it's no secret that these jersey are form fitting. After all, that's what it's designed to do.. Create less drag. What does this lead to? Apparel sales dropping much like the ratings of this years All-Star game.
"Fourteen years, four bankruptcies, three franchise moves, two lockouts, one lost season and no effective leadership. The business is so sick that the Pittsburgh Penguins, despite a loyal fan base and the most promising talent since Gretzky, are 50-50 to move to that noted hockey hotbed of Kansas City." Couldn't have said it better myself.
Hockey can work here. Anyone remember the 1990s? Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, Yzerman, Bourque, Roy.. This was when these players were hitting it hard and challenging the NBA market.. These young players coming into the league have the capability to bring this game back to greatness. As long as Bettman keeps driving hockey further and further into the seemingly never-ending hole in the ground, this won't happen. There are plenty more "ingenius" decisions this man has made, but I'll leave those for another time. Fifteen years and the NHL board of governors are still standing behind this idiot. He has no respect for this game's history, fans, or qualities. I say find someone who is the opposite of Bettman and the NHL will turn around. Until then, Bettman will work marketing his way instead of what's best for the league and for hockey.
2007-02-01 03:28:00 · answer #2 · answered by burnttea06 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bettman's basically the next Alan Eagleson. Okay, just needed to get that off my chest. I really wouldn't know who I would suggest to be the new commissioner because all the businessmen who are qualified aren't mentioned at all in the media. But if I had it my way, I'd pick a Canadian who cares more about the game and what fans say and want to see (like west coast teams seeing Crosby and Ovechkin), than what the NHL Board of Governors want.
2007-02-01 02:33:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gary Bettman did have a few good ideas, unfortunately, the TV contract was not one of them. l honestly think someone new should be chosen to run the NHL. That someone would have to know the game, know what the fans want, be able to negotiate a contract with a major TV or cable network and have ideas on how to better market and improve the game. l think that man is right under the NHL's nose and is Wayne Gretzky. Who better than Mr. 99 himself to run the game and do it the way he played it.
2007-02-01 03:08:29 · answer #4 · answered by P.I. Stingray 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A 2 year old in diapers would be a better Commissioner then Bettman. But If I had to choose a perfect Commissioner, I'd have to go with Gordie Howe. He played during the original six, and well into the expansion era. Fans (including myself) want to see the classic home-and-home series. If Gordie Howe is not available, my second choice would be Wayne. Followed by a Mario.
2007-02-01 12:42:53 · answer #5 · answered by Sean A 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ron Maclean, Don Cherry, Scotty Bowman, Scott Stevens, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, a trained monkey, a lab rat could all do a better job than Bettman.
2007-02-01 06:18:32 · answer #6 · answered by mapleleafskickass 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would look no further then Ken Dryden this man is A VERY VERY SMART MAN and knows his hockey.
GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
2007-02-01 12:37:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋