League News: 2015-16 Around the League V (NHL News n' Scores n' Stuff)

[g00n]

Bettman became commissioner in February 1993. At that point, San Jose, Ottawa, and Tampa Bay were already functioning franchises. Florida and Anaheim had been awarded expansion franchises in December 1992, also before Bettman took office. In other words, five of the nine expansion teams were already in place before Bettman.

The North Stars moved to Dallas in the fall of 1993, however, they had stripped the "North" from their name back in 1991 and attempted to move the franchise to Anaheim before the Ducks were announced. That team was clearly on the move before Bettman took office.

Prior to getting an expansion team, Nashville tried to lure the Devils out of New Jersey. Bettman actually stepped in to help the Devils stay in New Jersey.

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/14/s...nd-new-jersey-call-truce-and-strike-deal.html

I don't know what anyone expected Bettman to have to done to keep Hartford from moving. Karmanos didn't want to stay in Hartford, and had serious disagreements with the governor of Connecticut. It got to the point where Karmanos announced the team was leaving Connecticut before he even settling on a new home. Unless you expected Gary Bettman to go out and buy a few thousand season tickets himself and force people to attend rallies, I really don't know what you think could have been done to prevent that move.

I don't know if anyone said Bettman was responsible for ALL the expansion in the league, just over-expansion in general (which can be by one or two teams if they drag down the league) and protectionism regarding his southern franchises .

There were expansion teams even before the ones you listed, as well as mergers. That stuff happens. It's not the same as overexpanding and overfocusing on traditionally non-hockey markets. The Thrashers/Jets and Jets/Coyotes are examples of where things went wrong. And at the time of the CBA negotiations and lost season, franchises like that were a major concern.

You're also missing or downplaying Bettman's refusal to contract any of the southern teams that were struggling prior to profit sharing. That was a major part of his platform and one that he would not budge on. His protection of the league as an expanding entity with particular focus on southern markets in the US cost the NHL and entire season.

Bottom line, 11 years later there are still problems, but the league is in decent shape as a whole so he gets a new contract.

 

[Raikkonen]

Whether displaced or not, my main gripe with Bettman is how the league has pushed to be as soccer-mom friendly as possible on his watch, with wacky rule changes and just general taming of the game for casual fans. How much has the game really grown in audience as a result? I'm not talking total revenue, but attendance league-wide as well as TV ratings compared to when he took over? It may not be a fair comparison since the media landscape has changed a lot since then, with the internet and various other sports networks popping up.

Many things are being tamed for casual ppl. That's a long period trend imho. Dumb and dumber world. Soon in all matrices.

 

[txpd]

Anyone see the puckdaddy guy on hockey central today? he said he felt bad for toews getting caught up in controversy because he was sick. then said that the capitals were "brazen" in yanking ovechkin from the asg.

 

[Calicaps]

Anyone see the puckdaddy guy on hockey central today? he said he felt bad for toews getting caught up in controversy because he was sick. then said that the capitals were "brazen" in yanking ovechkin from the asg.

Oh **** off.

(him, not you.)

 

[Corby78]

Anyone see the puckdaddy guy on hockey central today? he said he felt bad for toews getting caught up in controversy because he was sick. then said that the capitals were "brazen" in yanking ovechkin from the asg.

whatever, maybe after we have a couple cups to our name we can try to appease the masses more. Until then do whatever it takes.

 

[PuckBuddy]

What, exactly, would Toews have shown off at the ASG?

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Anyone see the puckdaddy guy on hockey central today? he said he felt bad for toews getting caught up in controversy because he was sick. then said that the capitals were "brazen" in yanking ovechkin from the asg.

Double standards. If Toews was Russian and Ovi Canadian it would be the other way around I'm sure.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

The NHL lost a season partly because Bettman over-expanded and needed a system in place to protect the smaller market teams, present and future, via the salary cap and profit sharing. GB was willing to torpedo an entire season to get it, and the owners went along with him because they didn't really have any choice.

It had a bad look at the time. Ultimately, it probably had to be done, though.

Whether displaced or not, my main gripe with Bettman is how the league has pushed to be as soccer-mom friendly as possible on his watch, with wacky rule changes and just general taming of the game for casual fans. How much has the game really grown in audience as a result? I'm not talking total revenue, but attendance league-wide as well as TV ratings compared to when he took over? It may not be a fair comparison since the media landscape has changed a lot since then, with the internet and various other sports networks popping up.

Still, Bettman will be the commish as long as the owners assets are increasing in value. It has nothing to do with the integrity of the game or any romantic notion I or others might have.

This is really end of discussion. He's hired to run a multi-billion $ business and he's doing well by corporate standards. He's there to protect the richest men in the world from themselves and he's done well by them to date. He'll retire when he wants IMO like Stern.

 

[Raikkonen]

Double standards. If Toews was Russian and Ovi Canadian it would be the other way around I'm sure.

Give Toews the benefit of the doubt. Guy is a proven winner. Why wouldn't ppl like to see him one more time?

 

[txpd]

Also heard yesterday that the league is working a by week into the schedule for next year.

 

[442]

This is really end of discussion. He's hired to run a multi-billion $ business and he's doing well by corporate standards. He's there to protect the richest men in the world from themselves and he's done well by them to date. He'll retire when he wants IMO like Stern.

This. Roger Goodell makes Bettman look like a saint .... and he's still employed.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Give Toews the benefit of the doubt. Guy is a proven winner. Why wouldn't ppl like to see him one more time?

That's not what I'm saying though. Some guy said that he felt bad for Toews being suspended because he was sick and that the Caps/Ovi had a lot of nerve to skip the ASG.
Basically Toews gets the benefit of the doubt and Ovi doesn't. I hate this double standard.

 

[hockeykicker]

Also heard yesterday that the league is working a by week into the schedule for next year.

That is correct. It was part of the negotiations for the players to agree to 3v3 all star game

 

[trick9]

Jake Allen still injured, Blues call up Pheonix Copley.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

Jake Allen still injured, Blues call up Pheonix Copley.

I'm ok with him becoming a superstar. I just don't think I could handle having someone named Pheonix on the team.

 

[marcel snapshot]

Will the bye week be rotating for teams, like in the NFL - or will it be the same for everyone. Really hope it's the former and not the latter. Shutting down the whole game for a week seems like a bad way to market the sport.

 

[AtNightWeFly]

What, exactly, would Toews have shown off at the ASG?

Why would you even ask? The answer is obviously his intangibles!!!

 

[Marshall]

OT and a repeat, but the HF memories thread on the NHL board is amazing.

The back cover of "This is Out House" may be the funniest thing ever posted here.

 

[Calicaps]

OT and a repeat, but the HF memories thread on the NHL board is amazing.

The back cover of "This is Out House" may be the funniest thing ever posted here.

I actually downloaded that to my computer at the time so I could enjoy again and again.

 

[bobbybobcat11]

Crosby nets a hatty against the Sens

 

[Calicaps]

Crosby nets a hatty against the Sens

Whatever.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Crosby nets a hatty against the Sens

He's back in business. I wonder what triggered his comeback, if it was the coach, luck or him pulling the trigger more often?

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

McDavid scored a GOTY candidate, must watch!!
I think it won't be long before he becomes the best player in the world.

 

[hockeykicker]

i know everyone bummed right now but take a look at rest of divison


Washington 48 games played 35wins 9losses 4ot losses 74 points
rangers 50 games played 27 wins 18 losses 5 ot losses 59 points
islanders 48 games played 26 wins 16 losses 6 ot losses 58 points
penguins 49 games played 25 wins 17 losses 7 ot losses 57 points
devils 51 games played 26 wins 20 losses 5 ot losses 57 points
hurricanes 51 games 23 wins 20 losses 8 ot losses 54 points
flyers 48 games played 22 wins 18 losses 8 ot losses 52 points


then look at other divison, you have
tampa bay, boston and detroit all at 58 points (with one of those teams fighting for wild card too)behind florida. Ive never seen it this close

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

We will lock our playoff spot early and get prepared for the playoffs while they fight for survival. I'm happy we separated ourselves from the pack.