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

Yah but every league has grown almost 10fold in 20years...it's cost of living plus inflation...you think Bettman is the reason the NHL brings in the $$ it does now? He may have influenced a few things, but you can't give him all the recognition for what the NHL is today and the value that it is today.
I think any piece of pond scum could do what Bettman does...

In reality, he probably cost the NHL a bit by refusing to move Phoenix earlier, and allowing some of these teams to operate continually while losing money...if Phoenix or Nashville was moved to Hamilton there would be even more money floating around...plus Balsillie was willing to overpay for the franchises, but Bettman was to proud and his ego to big to allow those teams to pack up (especially Phoenix).

Zealots.

Scratch that, The Illuminati.
- wolfos412

You're not supposed to know that though.

players are the product

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

Unless you own a strip club.

Unless you own a strip club.
- A_SteamingLombardi

I like this comparison

Yah but every league has grown almost 10fold in 20years...it's cost of living plus inflation...you think Bettman is the reason the NHL brings in the $$ it does now? He may have influenced a few things, but you can't give him all the recognition for what the NHL is today and the value that it is today.
I think any piece of pond scum could do what Bettman does...

In reality, he probably cost the NHL a bit by refusing to move Phoenix earlier, and allowing some of these teams to operate continually while losing money...if Phoenix or Nashville was moved to Hamilton there would be even more money floating around...plus Balsillie was willing to overpay for the franchises, but Bettman was to proud and his ego to big to allow those teams to pack up (especially Phoenix).
- BoBBeR56

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

endorcements have nothing to do with this.

whats next? gatorade?

cmon..
- big_dion

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"

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

100% Correct.

They're being hypocrites

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

Here's the thing: Bettman does not work for the fans. He works for the NHL, which is owned by the owners. The belief that fans "should lock him out" is ludicrous and panders to the lesser informed fans.

Bettman earns his salary by delivering value to the owners, not the fans.

It doesn't matters if it's unfair or that fans hate him-it's just the way it is.

This reminds me of the garbled message of the Occupy Movement hippies.

100% Correct.

They're being hypocrites
- laughs2907

If NFL and NBA players are getting 50% and less than that from their leagues why do the NHL players think they should receive anything more than them?

I say move 5 US teams to Canada - Toronto, Hamilton, Quebec, Sask and Maritimes -

If NFL and NBA players are getting 50% and less than that from their leagues why do the NHL players think they should receive anything more than them?

I say move 5 US teams to Canada - Toronto, Hamilton, Quebec, Sask and Maritimes -
- MTL1

I'd definitely like to see 2-3 added to Canada. I'd like to see the following relocated...

Last 5 seasons...
Phoenix Coyotes - Lost 84.1 million
Columbus - Lost 43.6 million
Florida - Lost 46.7 million
Carolina - Lost 35.3 million

Bettmans just doing his job! Selannes just choked because it's costing him $5 Mill. Too bad Selanne, go back to Europe or get a real job!

Bettman has actually done a lot to keep struggling teams in their markets. Look at Pheonix !! Look how he blocked billionaire Jim Balsillie from moving Nashville- and later Phoenix- to Hamilton. And that would have raised league revenue, and Balsillie probably would be the Pegula of Hamilton- spending $$$ like crazy on players.

Bettman might be hated, but he's worked harder than most would at keeping small markets alive. It's just sour grapes by Teemu. Why doesn't Teemu- or some of the other top paid guys- pony up the money like he's suggesting? Sour grapes do not look well on your Teemu..
- broc

Does Jim Balsillie even have any money left after RIM has fallen into the toilet?

the players are je-rks.

I guess I don't understand revenue sharing...If you own the team, why do you have to share...Your paying players a lot of money...Why share your profits with them...If you loose money, do the players give you money?

I guess I don't understand revenue sharing...If you own the team, why do you have to share...Your paying players a lot of money...Why share your profits with them...If you loose money, do the players give you money?
- Kinglove1

The problem being a salary cap floor, so teams cannot decide what their market threshold for spending should be if they just want to break even. Furthermore, with a cap in place, teams that are profitable are just even more profitable now due to a cap ceiling.

Those two points together warrant some form of revenue sharing process.

[quote=MTL1]If NFL and NBA players are getting 50% and less than that from their leagues why do the NHL players think they should receive anything more than them?

You can't compare the NFL to NHL. Two separate systems.

Selanne's article is flawed. Betman works for 30 teams. He gets over $266,000 from each team to make $8 million. Selanne on the other hand works for one employer - the ducks. One owner pays him $4.5 million.

3rd time...lock out....NHL time to get Rid Of Bettman

Amazing how many of you side with Bettman and the owners. Why is he so hated? Cause he doesn't care about the fans. Say all you want about the growth of the game but it's very debatable how much influence on the revenue he had. Hes hated by fans because he has used a lockout (the fans) as leverage 3 times now! That is unacceptable.

Now while no one side is innocent here you cant blame the players for taking a stand. They are much more than employees they are the product. Without them there is no NHL. Do you think I would ever pay 200 bucks for a ticket or get NHL Center Ice if it wasn't the absolutely best players in the world? Hell no!

Bettman isn't just a mouthpiece for the owner he has much more power than many give him credit for. All 30 owners rarely agree on everything Bettman is the man in everyone's ear swaying opinion.

If they don't get this resolved before the regular season the NHL has missed a massive opportunity. With the last 3 Cups being in LA Boston and Chicago the NHL is on the verge of a big popularity surge in USA. They're actually closer to expansion than many think up to 32 teams.

The NHL wants these franchise in places like Phoenix because they need these major media markets to keeP NBCs money flowing. I don't blame Bettman for that at all. These franchises are not as unfeasible as it seems.

The players and the owners are codependent. Agree to a 50-50 split of revenues. Period.

And I don't buy that 18 out of 30 teams are losing money, owners are crafty with how they report there revenues.

It made me sick when Craig Leopold bragged about signing nearly 200 mil worth of contracts then in the same sentence complained about contracts.

[quote=MTL1]If NFL and NBA players are getting 50% and less than that from their leagues why do the NHL players think they should receive anything more than them?

You can't compare the NFL to NHL. Two separate systems.
- roenick

Well then the NHL should mandate non-guaranteed contracts - that would be a good solution - if the players demand these ridiculous percentages then make their contracts non-guaranteed -

And I don't buy that 18 out of 30 teams are losing money, owners are crafty with how they report there revenues.

It made me sick when Craig Leopold bragged about signing nearly 200 mil worth of contracts then in the same sentence complained about contracts.
- Blazed

Well that's what is reported.... To suggest otherwise is pure stipulation. I've never been to Africa, and I don't believe that Africa exists, but I'll have to accept what others are reporting I guess.

Well that's what is reported.... To suggest otherwise is pure stipulation. I've never been to Africa, and I don't believe that Africa exists, but I'll have to accept what others are reporting I guess.
- laughs2907

Did you believe the owners last time as well when they said a cap would lower ticket prices?

i hate bettman as well, but i can agree what he did for the league has had its ups and downs. what i question is whether its all because of him that the league has higher revenues.... talent, technology, better tv coverage and way better minor league systems have also ballooned the sport. id argue that his addition of 9000 fans per game in pheonix and in other markets he has his hands in arent the make or break additions that have pumped the leagues revenues. His handling of pheonix is a disaster and his spear heading of other fail southern markets vs markets that would flourish ( imo) are suspect. sure his sharing scheme is the best thing to happen, but to say hes the mastermind is silly. plus (frank), after 20 years time for a change. can only take him as a person for so long and second i think we need a guy that has more passion for the game

Awesome job by Teemu!!!
Gary needs to be ripped in half!
Keep messing around with NHL fans, and we will teach you a lesson that you will never forget!!
You overpaid trash collector!!!!
Now I feel better.
BTW, GO BILLS