Do you think Gary Bettman has helped or hurt the NHL? Why?

Answer 1

Bettman's missteps are many, but the most egregious of those is the abandonment of core fans in pursuit of the 'casual fan', the lowest common denominator that was to grow the league's exposure and popularity.

Renaming divisions and conferences to make them easier to remember. Easier for whom? Teal and purple all-star uni's, glowing pucks and hockey robots on Fox and the overall NBA-fication of a league that was steeped in a unique tradition and history of its own. Did the masses come? No.

The endless attempts at shoving square pegs into round holes of a template devised and marketed by incompetent, out of touch 'professionals'. The league never attempted marketing its unique product. Instead, it tried to mold and dillute that product to fit within its uninspired marketing apparatus. Is the NHL "FANtastic"? No.

Chronically assinine directives that have resulted in nothing more than two work stoppages to secure a salary cap that will grow beyond pre-lockout average league payrolls by the start of the 2007 season. Did the lockout achieve anything more than alienating its fans along with ESPN? No.

Bettman is not a hockey guy, never was a hockey guy and had zero understanding or respect for the nuances and subtleties that made the sport so engaging and entertaining for a die-hard core of supporters.

Is the league better off today than the day Bettman took office? No.

Only one man can bring this league back from the brink it teeters on. His name is Brian Burke.

Answer 2

I agree with jujubah. I am not a supporter of Bettman but I really question how much the fan knows about the business of sports. The NHL had to change and Bettman realized this. Yes, he has made hard-core Canadians unhappy by allowing organizations, that were in financial ruins, to leave. But these teams did not have serious Canadian corporations and/or wealthy individuals to buy them because they did not want to take on those debts. What was Bettman to do? Just let things stay the same with organizations not being able to make payrolls and facility upkeep? Even the best Canadian players were desperately looking for American teams that would pay American dollars... the elite players did not want to stay and it was not about winning, it was about security.

The expansion into the American market was a huge gamble but it was very necessary. Hockey leagues in Europe are actually very competetive with the NHL (just look at Sweden's team salaries) and has a huge talent pool. The NHL needs the best in the world to be a major sport and a functioning business in North America; the league has to attract Europeans to come here. The expansion has actually succeeded with mixed results but no Southern team is appearing to fold anytime soon.

Answer 3

I think he's hurt the game way more then helping it. I've been a fan for a long time and I remember when he changed the names of the divisions, so 'non-fans' wouldn't get confused.
Under Bettman hockey has had two strikes, one cost hockey an entire season, the stupid 'glowing puck', the 'wonderful' new TV contract (thank God for NHL Center Ice), trying to eliminate fighting (which I think is an important part of self reffing by the teams), just to count a few things that haven't worked out.
I can't think of a thing he's done to 'help' hockey. The causal fan still isn't there and he's pushing the hard core fans away.
I think the best thing Bettman could do is step down!

Answer 4

Bettman has Helped and also hurted the NHL. Has had some positive impact as well as negative. Too many to list pro's and cons of Gary Bettman. Always keep in mind who turned the NBA around.

Answer 5

I think Bettman's hurt the NHL. He's expanded the league into southern cities where the fans don't really care about hockey and abandoned Canadian cities that do care. In his efforts to turn the NHL into the NBA, he's succeeded with a season-canceling lockout and more recently with a politically correct crackdown on fighting, which is a traditional part of hockey and should be accepted.

Even though I'm American, I was rooting for Edmonton in the last Stanley Cup because I'm certain that Carolina's fans will desert them the moment they stop winning. Hockey's a successful sport in Canada and the Northern US, but its never going to be acceptable in areas where it never snows.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I'm not a Bettman fan. But I think it is too soon to make that call. The answer to this question won't be revealed for years to come, after he is long gone. Only history will be able to give us a clear indication of whether he truly helped or hurt the league.

Answer 8

I'll answer a question with a question. Was it better under Ziegler? I'm not talking about dynasties, Gretzky, etc. I am talking about the health of the league.

I'm not a Bettman supporter. I believe his intentions are good and that he has done some good for the NHL.

It is easy to "pile on".

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Answer 9

He helped the NHL as a league make money but he has hurt individual franchises the game and the true fans by expanding,taming the games physical play down,and forcing clubs to turn games into spectator events like a circus,it used to be go have a beer national anthem,game,a little organ music in between now its a joke the way they have the smoke and flashing lights.

Answer 10

He's done a fantastic job crashing the NHLinto the ground. Too many rule changes, overexpansion and bad TV coverage. And an absolute refusal to hear any other points of view