This came up in the NHL thread but its pretty important and deserving of its own thread especially as more stories come out discussing his "legacy".
Personally, I dont know him so I cant say I like or dislike him as a person but I think the NHL is infinitely better for having him in that position. I worry that his extension expires at the same time as the current CBA and how that might embolden the PA to test a new commissioner if, in fact, Gary retires at that time. In fact, it seems odd they'd time it that way unless Gary agreed to stay on with the caveat that he wouldnt go through another war.
I've heard some discussion of his legacy today and most people point to negatives, that he is unlikeable. Well, the NHL is larger, stronger with far more revenues, more teams, better TV deals, cost certainty, revenue sharing, stronger Canadian teams etc. Not every expansion or relocation was perfect but the massive southern expansion was overall a success.
I'd say, time will judge Bettman as a very successful commissioner.
NASHVILLE - Gary Bettman has been accused of being many things during his reign as the NHL’s grand poohbah. Party animal isn’t one of them.
Imagine, then, the number of eyebrows that were raised throughout the hockey world when Bettman, while extolling the virtues of the seemingly endless frivolity going on here in the Music City, noted on Sunday that “the party went on all night.”
Whoa. Hold it right there, Mr. Commish.
Were you out frequenting one of the outstanding Honky Tonks lining nearby Broadway into the wee hours?
It can’t be. If you had been out in that chaos, at least one member of the posse of hockey media here to cover all-star weekend would have spotted you through their bloodshot eyes.
That being the case, how did you know the seemingly-neverending Nashville bash was going on around the clock?
“I heard it,” Bettman said with a chuckle, showing a rare flash of humour.
For the most part, what Bettman has “heard” for much of his lengthy tenure running the NHL is criticism and jeers, most of which have bounced off him like bullets off Superman.
If you are one of the legions of Bettman Bashers out there, then you’ll be booing again at what you are about to read.
Brace yourself.
Gary Bettman, polarizing figure as he might be, has inked a multi-year contract extension through the 2021-22 season, which would complete a stint of almost three decades running the NHL.
You might be giving that news the thumbs down. But obviously NHL owners certainly aren’t. They are the ones who have given Bettman the green light - both figuratively and financially - to lead the league into the next decade.
It’s easy to see why the owners would want Bettman to remain in the captain’s chair. After all, the bottom line for these titans of business is the almighty buck. Always has been. Always will be.
To that end, Bettman’s key to longevity on the job has been the fact that he has put money in the owners’ pockets. In his era as commissioner, the NHL has gone from a $400 million per year business to more than $4 billion.
Bettman, 63, took over the post on Feb. 1, 1993 and will celebrate the 23rd anniversary on the job on Monday.
Under his watch, the NHL has expanded from 24 to 30 teams and has slogged through three lockouts, including the ugly work stoppage of 2004-05 which wiped out the entire season and kept the Stanley Cup from being awarded.
From a business standpoint, Bettman guided the league to a lucrative 12-year, $5.2 billion television deal with Rogers Sportsnet and a 10-year, $2 billion broadcasting pact in the U.S.
According to a source familiar with the situation, Bettman signed the his extension back in September but kept it quiet, as is the norm when it comes to many things involving the commish.
When asked about the reports of his extension during an appearance on The NHL Network Sunday afternoon, Bettman replied: “It’s not news to me. This happened many months ago.
“We’re just excited as a group to be moving the game forward.”
Interestingly, Bettman’s extension will expire in 2022, the same year the current collective bargaining agreement ends. The NHL can exercise its option to end the deal on Sept. 1, 2019. If it doesn’t, the NHLPA can pull the plug on it two weeks later.
Bettman feels one of the strong points of the modern-day National Hockey League is a competitive balance between teams that are superior to the three other prominent North American sports leagues - the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball.
But Bettman’s detractors are more apt to point out the warts that sprouted during his regime. Indeed, Bettman absorbed a significant amount of heat from north of the border on Saturday when he announced that Los Angeles would be awarded the 2017 All-Star Game, opting not to give it to Toronto as part of the Leafs' 100th anniversary celebrations.
With allegations flooding social media that he is anti-Canadian, it must be pointed out that that the league did return to Winnipeg. Of course, the Jets first left Winnipeg for Arizona in 1996, a move that also came under Bettman’s watch.
That’s the way it works with Bettman - you either like him or you loathe him.
However you feel about him, we do know this: he’s not going anywhere for a while.
This came up in the NHL thread but its pretty important and deserving of its own thread especially as more stories come out discussing his "legacy".
Personally, I dont know him so I cant say I like or dislike him as a person but I think the NHL is infinitely better for having him in that position. I worry that his extension expires at the same time as the current CBA and how that might embolden the PA to test a new commissioner if, in fact, Gary retires at that time. In fact, it seems odd they'd time it that way unless Gary agreed to stay on with the caveat that he wouldnt go through another war.
I've heard some discussion of his legacy today and most people point to negatives, that he is unlikeable. Well, the NHL is larger, stronger with far more revenues, more teams, better TV deals, cost certainty, revenue sharing, stronger Canadian teams etc. Not every expansion or relocation was perfect but the massive southern expansion was overall a success.
I'd say, time will judge Bettman as a very successful commissioner.
NASHVILLE - Gary Bettman has been accused of being many things during his reign as the NHL’s grand poohbah. Party animal isn’t one of them.
Imagine, then, the number of eyebrows that were raised throughout the hockey world when Bettman, while extolling the virtues of the seemingly endless frivolity going on here in the Music City, noted on Sunday that “the party went on all night.”
Whoa. Hold it right there, Mr. Commish.
Were you out frequenting one of the outstanding Honky Tonks lining nearby Broadway into the wee hours?
It can’t be. If you had been out in that chaos, at least one member of the posse of hockey media here to cover all-star weekend would have spotted you through their bloodshot eyes.
That being the case, how did you know the seemingly-neverending Nashville bash was going on around the clock?
“I heard it,” Bettman said with a chuckle, showing a rare flash of humour.
For the most part, what Bettman has “heard” for much of his lengthy tenure running the NHL is criticism and jeers, most of which have bounced off him like bullets off Superman.
If you are one of the legions of Bettman Bashers out there, then you’ll be booing again at what you are about to read.
Brace yourself.
Gary Bettman, polarizing figure as he might be, has inked a multi-year contract extension through the 2021-22 season, which would complete a stint of almost three decades running the NHL.
You might be giving that news the thumbs down. But obviously NHL owners certainly aren’t. They are the ones who have given Bettman the green light - both figuratively and financially - to lead the league into the next decade.
It’s easy to see why the owners would want Bettman to remain in the captain’s chair. After all, the bottom line for these titans of business is the almighty buck. Always has been. Always will be.
To that end, Bettman’s key to longevity on the job has been the fact that he has put money in the owners’ pockets. In his era as commissioner, the NHL has gone from a $400 million per year business to more than $4 billion.
Bettman, 63, took over the post on Feb. 1, 1993 and will celebrate the 23rd anniversary on the job on Monday.
Under his watch, the NHL has expanded from 24 to 30 teams and has slogged through three lockouts, including the ugly work stoppage of 2004-05 which wiped out the entire season and kept the Stanley Cup from being awarded.
From a business standpoint, Bettman guided the league to a lucrative 12-year, $5.2 billion television deal with Rogers Sportsnet and a 10-year, $2 billion broadcasting pact in the U.S.
According to a source familiar with the situation, Bettman signed the his extension back in September but kept it quiet, as is the norm when it comes to many things involving the commish.
When asked about the reports of his extension during an appearance on The NHL Network Sunday afternoon, Bettman replied: “It’s not news to me. This happened many months ago.
“We’re just excited as a group to be moving the game forward.”
Interestingly, Bettman’s extension will expire in 2022, the same year the current collective bargaining agreement ends. The NHL can exercise its option to end the deal on Sept. 1, 2019. If it doesn’t, the NHLPA can pull the plug on it two weeks later.
Bettman feels one of the strong points of the modern-day National Hockey League is a competitive balance between teams that are superior to the three other prominent North American sports leagues - the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball.
But Bettman’s detractors are more apt to point out the warts that sprouted during his regime. Indeed, Bettman absorbed a significant amount of heat from north of the border on Saturday when he announced that Los Angeles would be awarded the 2017 All-Star Game, opting not to give it to Toronto as part of the Leafs' 100th anniversary celebrations.
With allegations flooding social media that he is anti-Canadian, it must be pointed out that that the league did return to Winnipeg. Of course, the Jets first left Winnipeg for Arizona in 1996, a move that also came under Bettman’s watch.
That’s the way it works with Bettman - you either like him or you loathe him.
However you feel about him, we do know this: he’s not going anywhere for a while.
Deal with it.
mike.zeisberger@sunmedia.ca