So then the owners are trying to fix a broken model by getting more money back only put a band aid on a big problem? would you expect a restructuring of the league at some point then?
- munky123

I think some teams have to be relocated shortly. Some markets simply aren't working. The experiment has gone on long enough... Move them. For instance, I wouldn't mind seeing the following 4 move...

Last 5 seasons...
Phoenix Coyotes - Lost 84.1 million
Columbus - Lost 43.6 million
Florida - Lost 46.7 million
Nashville - Lost 29.4 million

If teams move - That needle "Robert" would have to admit that he was wrong and that he made bad decisions by moving hockey teams into such markets.

On the players - they should all sign in other leagues and give the NHL the stiff when negociations are finally reached. That way nobody goes to the games, no Crosbone, Ovie1 or Dats to watch. GG NHL

I think some teams have to be relocated shortly. Some markets simply aren't working. The experiment has gone on long enough... Move them. For instance, I wouldn't mind seeing the following 4 move...

Last 5 seasons...
Phoenix Coyotes - Lost 84.1 million
Columbus - Lost 43.6 million
Florida - Lost 46.7 million
Nashville - Lost 29.4 million
- laughs2907

So in the end where are the players at fault? Oh well, its an endless debate, philosophically. Money wise, both are to blame and its lame, but more so on the owners

I agree on dumping those 5 teams, move them to northern us and Canadian markets.. once they are planted try the southern states again. This time hopefully tho, sans bettman. Good or bad, hes got to go. A point rarely talked about, how can on the fence fans or potential fans take the sport seriously when we boo our own commish at every function.

So in the end where are the players at fault? Oh well, its an endless debate, philosophically. Money wise, both are to blame and its lame, but more so on the owners

I agree on dumping those 5 teams, move them to northern us and Canadian markets.. once they are planted try the southern states again. This time hopefully tho, sans bettman. Good or bad, hes got to go. A point rarely talked about, how can on the fence fans or potential fans take the sport seriously when we boo our own commish at every function.
- munky123

It's not the players fault, just like it isn't the average employee's fault when they have to take a pay-cut. Sometimes business decisions pay off, and sometimes they don't... That's just the way it is. Sometimes you have to do what's best for the company/organization/league/industry.

Both Bettman and Fehr have already stated they will not be collecting their salaries during the lockout....

If Selanne has such a hate on for Bettman and feels so strongly that he is bad for the game ...why has he continued playing until the age of 74 ...because it makes him rich.

Stop biting the hand that feeds you Selanne. Look in the mirror and tell me you can't afford a pay cut.

Both sides are to blame. Neither side has a leg to stand on. Get a deal done.
- habmanj

Teemu continues to play because of his love and passion for the game not because he wants to get rich. There's a reason why he spends so much time contemplating retirement and weighing his options. If he does it just for the money, I dont think it would take him so long to make a decision during the offseason. And based on personal encounters with Teemu, I can say he is the most humble and nicest individual in all of sports. I would hate to see him retire because of this impending lockout

Teemu continues to play because of his love and passion for the game not because he wants to get rich. There's a reason why he spends so much time contemplating retirement and weighing his options. If he does it just for the money, I dont think it would take him so long to make a decision during the offseason. And based on personal encounters with Teemu, I can say he is the most humble and nicest individual in all of sports. I would hate to see him retire because of this impending lockout
- *Ducks4Cup*

I'd have love and passion for the game if I was going to make 4.5 million this year as well

Teemu continues to play because of his love and passion for the game not because he wants to get rich. There's a reason why he spends so much time contemplating retirement and weighing his options. If he does it just for the money, I dont think it would take him so long to make a decision during the offseason. And based on personal encounters with Teemu, I can say he is the most humble and nicest individual in all of sports. I would hate to see him retire because of this impending lockout
- *Ducks4Cup*

He doesn't have to GET rich, because he is rich. And if he retires, it won't be because of the lockout, it'll be becauise he's already really old.

Bettman could be considered elite at his job (only 4 people in North America do what he does). How much do the top 4 hockey players make? Top 4 bankers? Top 4 oil dudes? Completely reasonable salary
- drexel

Exactly president (commisoner) of a 3 billion dollar corporation 8 million is not that big of a salary in comparison to any corporation that size with those kind of revenue.

I agree.

Bashing Bettman for the sake of bashing the guy makes no sense to me.

And it is getting old.

I don't like Bettman at all - his personality, the way he seems to talk down to people, and his weasel-like demeanor really bothers me - but Bettman's direction comes from an approved agenda by the league's owners and it is his job to ensure that their vision gets done. Bettman is paid to be the owners bumhole.

That being said, he took a league that was making $400 million in revenue annually, to one that is now to about $3.3Billion. Not to mention the money generated from expansion fees and finally a new national NHL broadcasting agreement in the US that bring in a significant amount of money.

In doing so, he has made owners AND players a lot richer over that period.

From a business model, I would call that a huge success.

Do I agree with everything he has done? No, I have some significant issues. Are there problems? Sure. Will they get fixed? Likely... eventually.

But on the whole, the NHL is in a much better place today than when he took over.

And Bettman deserves a large part of the credit for that.
- JDJ

If I start a business and I want it to grow exponentially over the next few Years I'm putting in a call to Bettman weasel looking or not ( he a lawyer they are almost all like him, least good ones are) that man is a brilliant business man. Large companies all but went bankrupt during the depression his business grew 500%

I dont know why everyone is hating on bettman. He gets paid well to do a job he's good at. End of story.
- howamidointhis

I don't know a sport where the fans like the commisoner. Must mean they all suck at there job. No matter who runs the league the fans will hate them.

I dont know why everyone is hating on bettman. He gets paid well to do a job he's good at. End of story.
- howamidointhis

WELLL?????? PAss me some of the good poop brahhhh.

Only 4 ppl do whathe does because there is only 4 big leagues out there..Do you really think their is not a ton more ppl that more then capable to fill his shoes?

I'm at a lose for words that you even consider his 8 million $$ salary is acceptable.
- ALeafsFan4Ever

He works for the owners not "A" owner. A better way to look at this is 30 guys pay him $266,666 each a year.

The Hamilton squad would be his main source of income at that point because his RIM Stock is worth Jack!
- atlsabsfan

Yah, and he is STILL a multi-millionaire...

100% agree, i see the flaws, way to many ideas with no filler. I agree with the GSP anology, to be fair i had smoked a doob befor and didnt proof read anything i wrote It worked in my head at the time haha... Ive taken too much of a black and white approach to it, based primarily on emotion vs being objective and using common sense. Still all i was trying to comment on was to me i think the players are getting poop on more than deserved.
- munky123

LOL...how can i argue with that

I dont understand why you are complaining Steve? Bettman has done a great job in building this team and making the league more competitive. I dont think any of us really have a say in this one. We dont even really know what goes on behind those doors. Stop making Selanne look like hes a hero here for speaking his mind. Lets just say Bettman gave part of his 8 million to 8 stuggling teams, would that even help that team out? geeeez please stop blaming Bettman

If Selanne has such a hate on for Bettman and feels so strongly that he is bad for the game ...why has he continued playing until the age of 74 ...because it makes him rich.

Stop biting the hand that feeds you Selanne. Look in the mirror and tell me you can't afford a pay cut.

- habmanj

what incredible disrespect to a legend...yikes everyone knows why Teemu is still playin and he's been around to have been screwed by Bettman 3 times now, i think he's more than entitled to his criticism of the commish and has more than earned it, if he wanted money that badly he would have taken the 7 mil The Jets were gonna offer him last year or something of the sort...come on guy

You missed the entire point -

All I have heard about from the players is "fair this and fair that" and that they "want to share this and share that" well they should start sharing their endorsement money if that want "fair and share"
- MTL1

nothing beats having bettman in a commercial drinking gatorade and wearing bauer skates.

nobody would drink gatorade or wear bauer skates.

so whos missing what point?

the players are the only reason the game is watched.
the fans are the only reason the players are paid what they are.
the owners just front the money for everything, so if they dont gain money, then boo (frank)ing hoo, 95% of the owners are multi hundred millionaires or billionaires, and losing 20 mil in a season is like us dropping a 20 dollar bill at the strip club.

i dont feel sorry for the owners, nor do i feel sorry for bettman and his 8 million dollar a year salary.

BETTMAN made more than 16 other teams...what did he do?

funny, when gretzky coached and was owed what...9 million...he just left and said they can figure it out later.

why isnt bettman taking the cut? oh i know because hes dropping 6 million a year on Doan.

who pays for that? toronto, montreal, etc.

so yeah, i do have a problem with bettman, wasnt it he and the other idiots who set up the last CBA? funny, it doesnt work, who's fault is that? Not the players, thats for sure.

this whole thing is a (frank)in joke.

Good for Teemu.

I dont understand why you are complaining Steve? Bettman has done a great job in building this team and making the league more competitive. I dont think any of us really have a say in this one. We dont even really know what goes on behind those doors. Stop making Selanne look like hes a hero here for speaking his mind. Lets just say Bettman gave part of his 8 million to 8 stuggling teams, would that even help that team out? geeeez please stop blaming Bettman
- kidninja

You got a fetish for kid ninjas and little monkeys in suits huh?