so let me get this straight.

Bettman is not in the wrong for being the quote on quote "female dog" or "weasal" for the owners, and he does his job well......but its not his "fault" were going into a lock out...

BUT YET..

You give him all the credit in the world for making the NHL a better place?

amazing..."hes just doing the job for the owners" - yet..."he's done such a great job improving the NHL and making the owners lots of money"...

well which one is it? it cant be both.

bettman is the route of all evil, just saying
- big_dion

You don't have to like a person to see they have done things that have improved the overall business of the game. Nor do you have to agree with everything he has done over his tenure to appreciate the growth in the NHL either.

I never implied that Bettman was guiltless in where we are - he has a clear agenda and the power to execute it as he see fit.

What I am implying is that stating Bettman is the sole reason we are where we are is ignorant - you have 30 team owners, and NHLPA, and like Bettman, Fehr who has a clear agenda and the power to execute it as he sees fit.

Every single one of those people involved are to blame.

I guess what I wanted to say was that he's playing in the NHL because he's an old man by NHL standards and is still proving that he's good enough to play in the 'best' league of hockey. I think there's more too it than making x million bucks for 1 more year.
- wolfos412

I agree. He is likely comfortable in playing with the Ducks (win or lose) and enjoys it.

Great for him (no condescension meant whatsoever).

But he has had the chance to make 10s of millions of dollars doing so, most of that due to the growth of the NHLs revenue streams over the last 20 years.

So before opening his mouth, he should consider what players were making 20-25 years or so ago and perhaps take a few moments to be grateful in how the NHL's growth directly contributed to his level of comfort.

And the person who oversaw that growth: Gary Bettman.

You don't have to like a person to see they have done things that have improved the overall business of the game. Nor do you have to agree with everything he has done over his tenure to appreciate the growth in the NHL either.

I never implied that Bettman was guiltless in where we are - he has a clear agenda and the power to execute it as he see fit.

What I am implying is that stating Bettman is the sole reason we are where we are is ignorant - you have 30 team owners, and NHLPA, and like Bettman, Fehr who has a clear agenda and the power to execute it as he sees fit.

Every single one of those people involved are to blame.
- JDJ

of course they are all to blame.

but bettman is the scapegoat for all the owners, so i cant give him full credit for pushings things through, and then not pushing others through.

cant give someone credit for the good stuff then say, well its not bettmans fault its the owners...(when its a bad scenario).

he is the top dog, the owners pay him to be their female dog. bettman seems to have an agenda, none of his own, all of the owners. so i gve him 0 credit for anything other than being a gnarly female dog that any person who watches the NHL would love to one punch.

i hate that road.
- Fountain-San

I agree. He is likely comfortable in playing with the Ducks (win or lose) and enjoys it.

Great for him (no condescension meant whatsoever).

But he has had the chance to make 10s of millions of dollars doing so, most of that due to the growth of the NHLs revenue streams over the last 20 years.

So before opening his mouth, he should consider what players were making 20-25 years or so ago and perhaps take a few moments to be grateful in how the NHL's growth directly contributed to his level of comfort.

And the person who oversaw that growth: Gary Bettman.
- JDJ

and do you really think any other "female dog" couldnt have done that job? growth?

the population of the world increased. how does that not have any factors on the situation?

or maybe canada beating the poop out of the USA for 30 years they started to get all huffy puffy because they feel they have to "try" and be the best at everything.

i think bettman or anyone who has no morals would be able to do what all these millionaire/billionaire owners want him to do...

Teemu should keep his mouth shut

He is the one involved in that sham of a company - Power Balance bracelets

Why doesn't he share all his endorsement money he got from that company with the other players and owners?

The NHLPA is not a true "union" - if it was a true union then players would not be making 18 times more than their other union brothers - and all endorsement money would be put in a pot and shared equally

They call it a union when its convenient for them

Teemu should keep his mouth shut

He is the one involved in that sham of a company - Power Balance bracelets

Why doesn't he share all his endorsement money he got from that company with the other players and owners?

The NHLPA is not a true "union" - if it was a true union then players would not be making 18 times more than their other union brothers - and all endorsement money would be put in a pot and shared equally

They call it a union when its convenient for them
- MTL1

endorcements have nothing to do with this.

whats next? gatorade?

cmon..

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

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.

These star players need to STFU!! They have truck loads of money, guys like Sid & Teemu wouldnt have to play another game & have a lifestyle we only dream of. Bettman is doing his job just like Selanne gets his millions to score goals. I wish the league & the players just say we (frank)ed up & we got to sort this mess out so we can get back to doing what we do best. Right now, beaking off & propaganda isnt it.

I agree. He is likely comfortable in playing with the Ducks (win or lose) and enjoys it.

Great for him (no condescension meant whatsoever).

But he has had the chance to make 10s of millions of dollars doing so, most of that due to the growth of the NHLs revenue streams over the last 20 years.

So before opening his mouth, he should consider what players were making 20-25 years or so ago and perhaps take a few moments to be grateful in how the NHL's growth directly contributed to his level of comfort.

And the person who oversaw that growth: Gary Bettman.
- JDJ

Ok, there I agree with you. Well put.

I do however feel that the growth of the NHL was inevitable and Gary happened to be the commisioner at the time. I'm not saying he has done nothing, but I feel any person in Bettmans position would have been equally magnified.

I know I said I hate him, but I said it's because he has little big man sydrome.

I hate that the players publicly pick on Bettman... I think it's disgusting. If you're going to do it, do it behind closed doors.

The league isn't in as good of shape as some of you say. Revenues were as high as they were because of 5-6 teams... The league is still in terrible shape as 18 teams lost money last season.

~ 50/50 revenue split between players and the owners
~ Restructured sharing scheme for owners
~ Relocation of certain money sucking teams (Coyotes, Jackets, Pathers ~ Combined 174.4 million dollars lost over the last 5 years)

of course they are all to blame.

but bettman is the scapegoat for all the owners, so i cant give him full credit for pushings things through, and then not pushing others through.

cant give someone credit for the good stuff then say, well its not bettmans fault its the owners...(when its a bad scenario).

he is the top dog, the owners pay him to be their female dog. bettman seems to have an agenda, none of his own, all of the owners. so i gve him 0 credit for anything other than being a gnarly female dog that any person who watches the NHL would love to one punch.
- big_dion

Do you understand how business are run?

The CEO gets direction from their board of governors that set the overall direction of the company... the CEO is tasked with how to get it there - the actually plan and execution. Usually the CEO gets approval from the BoG on the plan that he created and will be executed.

Replace CEO and BoG with Bettman and Owners.

So yes, the owners are responsible for the direction, but Bettman is responsible for the execution of that direction - from taking the league from a $400M to a $3.3B league. Just like the Owners have given direction on reducing the player's cut of revenue, Bettman is responsible for how to get that share reduced to the owners favour, which he will get.

Pretty simple to understand.

Again, just because your hate for Bettman is at a level you feel the need to punch him in the face, that does not mean he is not appreciated by others for his execution of growing the league revenues over his tenure.

His success speaks for itself.

Just like his failures (ie: Phoenix, etc...).

and do you really think any other "female dog" couldnt have done that job? growth?

the population of the world increased. how does that not have any factors on the situation?

or maybe canada beating the poop out of the USA for 30 years they started to get all huffy puffy because they feel they have to "try" and be the best at everything.

i think bettman or anyone who has no morals would be able to do what all these millionaire/billionaire owners want him to do...
- big_dion

you're priceless.

Do you understand how business are run?

The CEO gets direction from their board of governors that set the overall direction of the company... the CEO is tasked with how to get it there - the actually plan and execution. Usually the CEO gets approval from the BoG on the plan that he created and will be executed.

Replace CEO and BoG with Bettman and Owners.

So yes, the owners are responsible for the direction, but Bettman is responsible for the execution of that direction - from taking the league from a $400 to a $3.3B league. Just like the Owners have given direction on reducing the player's cut of revenue, Bettman is responsible for how to get that share reduced to the owners favour, which he will get.

Pretty simple to understand.

Again, just because your hate for Bettman is at a level you feel the need to punch him in the face, that does not mean he is not appreciated by others for his execution of growing the league revenues over his tenure.

His success speaks for itself.

Just like his failures (ie: Phoenix, etc...).
- JDJ

Canada, good. USA, bad.

Canada, good. USA, bad.
- Fountain-San

I believe the point is we're paying the 8mill but don't have a say in who we pay. It's bettman and we all would rather it be someone else.
- wolfos412

Customers don't pick the boss.

players are the product

at no other job are the products the employee's so this makes a HUGE difference.
- big_dion

Well....except consulting firms....and law firms....and cops....and firemen.


But other than that....

Customers don't pick the boss.
- Jacob582

20 people have said that already I was being half facetious.

I believe the point is we're paying the 8mill but don't have a say in who we pay. It's bettman and we all would rather it be someone else.
- wolfos412

WHO pays him?

WHO pays him?
- prock

Zealots.

Scratch that, The Illuminati.

We don't like Tim Thomas because he is political.
Get back to work Teemu!

Well....except consulting firms....and law firms....and cops....and firemen.


But other than that....
- stormeyAlterEgo

and politicians...... or do corporations "pick" those?

and politicians...... or do corporations "pick" those?
- Jacob582

See my answer above...

and politicians...... or do corporations "pick" those?
- Jacob582

Corporation are people and people pick those they hire.

Or maybe because living in California, he gets taxed a lot less than he would in other jurisdictions (or countries), making it not exactly even or similar. Or maybe because his family is happy living there and enjoy the lifestyle.

Or countless other reasons.
- JDJ

Obviously you've never been to California.