the league grossed over 3.3 Billion last year, HRR has done nothing but go up
- Rayven

The numbers are correct except you have to peel back the layers to see why.

Virtually all of the increase has come from two factors.

One, the big clubs.

Two, the Canadian dollar has increased 20% in that time. All the Canadian clubs benefited huge from this.

This is all true.

It is also why I believe when the dust settles he is gone. The big money making clubs are the only clubs who have suffered during the lockouts.

The big boys will demand his head.
- faceto27

And I think that a lot of the changes they're trying to make is going to affect the large market teams and weaken their ability to put a good product on the ice. And do little to help the small market teams become profitable and help them to become franchises that can compete and be successful. It will help some. But why do you want to damage the horses that carry this League? Have a 60M Cap and force a team like Pittsburgh to have to make radical changes to it's roster. Doesn't make sense. NHL has it's head up it's ass.

The numbers are correct except you have to peel back the layers to see why.

Virtually all of the increase has come from two factors.

One, the big clubs.

Two, the Canadian dollar has increased 20% in that time. All the Canadian clubs benefited huge from this.
- faceto27

either way, it's happened under Buttman, I'm not saying I support the (frank)er, he's a scumbag

Gibson coming up huge for the good guys again.. Cmon amerks 6 mins to go

I think you absolutely can blame Batterman. It is the strategy of Proskauer Rose to lockout players, and to try and crush Unions and to try and to break up the unity of Unions. And that was the NHL's entire strategy in this. And it has backfired on them.
- MJL

How about you explain Fehr's strategy?

Here is a clue, since you need one, yet again. Fehr's goal all along has been to stall, play games push this to the D-day for the season and then use a sham DOI to try to squeeze as much as he can.

When was the last CBA he negotiated again?

either way, it's happened under Buttman, I'm not saying I support the (frank)er, he's a scumbag
- Rayven

Those increases would have happened with anyone being the comnmish during that time.

They were factors that he had zero influence on.

On the other hand, the factors that he did have, was the expansion to the southern US. Can we not all agree that it has been not a successful venture?

The numbers are correct except you have to peel back the layers to see why.

Virtually all of the increase has come from two factors.

One, the big clubs.

Two, the Canadian dollar has increased 20% in that time. All the Canadian clubs benefited huge from this.
- faceto27

I think it has been even more than 20% (without looking)?

How about you explain Fehr's strategy?

Here is a clue, since you need one, yet again. Fehr's goal all along has been to stall, play games push this to the D-day for the season and then use a sham DOI to try to squeeze as much as he can.

When was the last CBA he negotiated again?
- Aetherial

Time will tell if it was the correct strategy.

The players felt they needed someone who stare down the NHL. They felt bullied last time out.

Time will tell

I think it has been even more than 20% (without looking)?
- Aetherial

you're probably right. Didn't verify it. I just know that it was a huge increase, and that alone was enormous to HRR since that alone would increase the leagues top money maker (Leafs) by over 20%.

Those increases would have happened with anyone being the comnmish during that time.

They were factors that he had zero influence on.

On the other hand, the factors that he did have, was the expansion to the southern US. Can we not all agree that it has been not a successful venture?
- faceto27

And this is where he has to take the blame for the lockouts - the only tool he has to slow down the inevitable slide to bankruptcy of those teams is to roll back salaries again and again. The model he created doesn't work.

Those increases would have happened with anyone being the comnmish during that time.

They were factors that he had zero influence on.

On the other hand, the factors that he did have, was the expansion to the southern US. Can we not all agree that it has been not a successful venture?
- faceto27

Without debating the pros and cons of Bettman here is what I don't get...

How come Bettman gets no credit for the huge growth of the league, but he gets ALL the blame for the lockouts.

Yet, somehow, the owners, his employers, who have a vested interest in the success of the league have been paying him huge dollars for a long time now.

None of that adds up. The Owners are not idiots.

you're probably right. Didn't verify it. I just know that it was a huge increase, and that alone was enormous to HRR since that alone would increase the leagues top money maker (Leafs) by over 20%.
- faceto27

Are you talking about the Canadian dollar. If I remember correctly, they said HRR grew about 10% or so last Season from the Season before. And both the NHL and the NHLPA agreed that the Canadian dollar was responsible for about 1% of that growth. Not positive, but that's what I remember.

And this is where he has to take the blame for the lockouts - the only tool he has to slow down the inevitable slide to bankruptcy of those teams is to roll back salaries again and again. The model he created doesn't work.
- Canada Cup

True enough. If you the bottom 6 revenue teams were not in the equation, would the NHL be fighting so hard to roll back the salaries??

I think not

Therefore, you can reason that these lockouts are a direct result of Bettman's failed expansion policy

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA FOR GOLD!!!!!

ITS ALL OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time will tell if it was the correct strategy.

The players felt they needed someone who stare down the NHL. They felt bullied last time out.

Time will tell
- faceto27

To what end?

Don't you think, under Goodenow, they players "stared down" the league. THAT group of players torched a whole season, without playing sham DOI games in the courts. THEY had balls.

Fast forward to now... what did that staring down accomplish? The players went further in 2004 and accomplished nothing lasting. There is zero evidence to suggest that Fehr has done anything except further strain the labor relations.

And this is where he has to take the blame for the lockouts - the only tool he has to slow down the inevitable slide to bankruptcy of those teams is to roll back salaries again and again. The model he created doesn't work.
- Canada Cup

I think some of the blame has to go to the management of some of the teams themselves also. Columbus has been around for about a dozen years. Made the playoffs once. Horrible drafting and player moves, and they failed to build their fan base. Bettman can't be blamed for everything. Although as Commissioner, I guess he is ultimately responsible for the growth of the League.

you're probably right. Didn't verify it. I just know that it was a huge increase, and that alone was enormous to HRR since that alone would increase the leagues top money maker (Leafs) by over 20%.
- faceto27

Since last lockout, revenues increased by 7.1%. Without rise in Canadian dollar, revenue growth would have been 6.3%. Remember, Rangers, Bruins, Flyers etc were part of that growth.

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA FOR GOLD!!!!!

ITS ALL OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- BuffaloHardHat

Love it... Were counted out after losing to Canada and Russia earlier.. Sweet win

Without debating the pros and cons of Bettman here is what I don't get...

How come Bettman gets no credit for the huge growth of the league, but he gets ALL the blame for the lockouts.

Yet, somehow, the owners, his employers, who have a vested interest in the success of the league have been paying him huge dollars for a long time now.

None of that adds up. The Owners are not idiots.
- Aetherial

Okay, lets reasonably analyze the growth of the NHL. For what do you feel Bettman can be credited for?

I'll start. He got the owners lots of money through expansion. That said, how much did the owners have to give back to prop up the Coyotes the past few years?

Love it... Were counted out after losing to Canada and Russia earlier.. Sweet win
- Popcorn Kid

So pumped!!!!!!!!!!

Best team, by far in this tourny.

Bettman can't be blamed for everything. Although as Commissioner, I guess he is ultimately responsible for the growth of the League.
- MJL

How has the growth of the league been since he has been commissioner?

Thanks for giving him props.

Just televise the AHL and be done with it.

- eichiefs9

This one time, at band camp...

Just televise the AHL and be done with it.
- Xnightwish

Might as well watch rec league....

No one will watch AHL

How has the growth of the league been since he has been commissioner?

Thanks for giving him props.
- Aetherial

Best thing he did was hire John Collins from NFL as VP, who helped max out revenue potential from on-line, Winter Classic, etc. Fact remains that the uneven nature of the revenue growth is his Achilles heel given cap/floor system.