Because the owners agree to those rules. Bettman doesn't have control of the league, because if he does something the owners don't like, he gets fired. If they like what he does, he stays on the job. Bettman is not an owner, he's an employee. Bettman's job is to be the public face and take the flak for thirty owners, and particularly the big owners like Toronto, Detroit, New York, etc. You think Illitch et al are under Bettman's control? Guess again.
- Zezel

The owners want to make money and it's Bettman's job to deliver that. But how he delivers it is up to him. He controls the league more than you know. If Bettman wanted to, he could come up with more creative alternatives to solve this problem but he's sticking to the my way or nothing mentality.

Morgan Rielly is filthy.

The owners want to make money and it's Bettman's job to deliver that. But how he delivers it is up to him. He controls the league more than you know. If Bettman wanted to, he could come up with more creative alternatives to solve this problem but he's sticking to the my way or nothing mentality.
- Two_For_Truth

The buck doesn't stop with him, it stops with the owners. Bettman's like a lawyer representing his clients, he acts on their behalf. That's why they have board of governor's meetings and votes, because changes are made by a group of owners, not unilaterally by the commissioner.

The buck doesn't stop with him, it stops with the owners. Bettman's like a lawyer representing his clients, he acts on their behalf. That's why they have board of governor's meetings and votes, because changes are made by a group of owners, not unilaterally by the commissioner.
- Zezel

He's far, far more than that.

Bettman didn't even need a vote to lock out the players.

He's far, far more than that.

Bettman didn't even need a vote to lock out the players.
- Two_For_Truth

Because the owners wanted a lockout.

Because the owners wanted a lockout.
- Zezel

Okay, you're missing the point.

He didn't need a vote to have a lock out. He took one for the hell of it but he didn't actually need one.

That should be enough to tell you he's far more than just a "bag man lawyer" like you said.

Okay, you're missing the point.

He didn't need a vote to have a lock out. He took one for the hell of it but he didn't actually need one.

That should be enough to tell you he's far more than just a "bag man lawyer" like you said.
- Two_For_Truth

The owners wanted a lockout.

The owners wanted a lockout.
- Zezel

- Two_For_Truth

lol exactly