rekrul
Registered User
What I don't get is the only time he had full passion and vigor was this labor battle, which he really needed to win. But a few years ago when rule changes went in for all of the obstruction/hooking/cluching and 2/3 of the leagues GMs and coaches whined that their teams were out of sorts ( IE they couldn't control the flow like before ) Bettman& NHL front office folded like a cheap rental chair. SO Bettman has the stones to kill the season to break the union's hold on salary structure but he couldn't tell the GMs to suck it up and deal....WTF?
For anyone simply ask this Is the NHL better now than when he took it over in '92? Better TV preseance IMO was a solid effort but really was riding the tide of Gretzky in LA, Mario and NYR teams. I'll give him credit for sponcership deals, those have been very underrated, shows the business side is pretty sharp. But the 20 team playoff is very quick $$ grab, which allways blows up in the face of the NHL ( Sportchanel deal late 80's during oilers run, Quick expasion for the $50 mil). If Gary can not rein in the tradionial nit wits which make bad judgements on simple money grabs this league is DOOMED...
lets have a quick litmus test, Goes through with 20 team playoff and cheapens the regular season. Gets no national Solid TV presance ( NBC deal rather weak ) and new product still gets stangnated. I would have to say Bettman easily has left the NHL is WORSE shape than when he took over.
However if he somehow can convice sponcerships, a desent TV package and most importantly on ice product improves. I might hold out Judgement for a few more years. Bring back the NHL from the dead is all Gary B has to do.
For anyone simply ask this Is the NHL better now than when he took it over in '92? Better TV preseance IMO was a solid effort but really was riding the tide of Gretzky in LA, Mario and NYR teams. I'll give him credit for sponcership deals, those have been very underrated, shows the business side is pretty sharp. But the 20 team playoff is very quick $$ grab, which allways blows up in the face of the NHL ( Sportchanel deal late 80's during oilers run, Quick expasion for the $50 mil). If Gary can not rein in the tradionial nit wits which make bad judgements on simple money grabs this league is DOOMED...
lets have a quick litmus test, Goes through with 20 team playoff and cheapens the regular season. Gets no national Solid TV presance ( NBC deal rather weak ) and new product still gets stangnated. I would have to say Bettman easily has left the NHL is WORSE shape than when he took over.
However if he somehow can convice sponcerships, a desent TV package and most importantly on ice product improves. I might hold out Judgement for a few more years. Bring back the NHL from the dead is all Gary B has to do.