Just don't do something stupid like trading for Scheirholtz and then cutting him to sign Delmon Young.

I am shocked he didn't hire him over skype.
- ob18

He used facetime

And during that time the NHL has been surpassed in popularity by NASCAR in the US, lost a full season and half of two others in lockouts, implemented a cap system that saw salaries skyrocket and attendance stay stagnant and the league expanded carelessly into areas that haven't been able to really support teams.

If you hire a henchman, make sure it's the right one.
- Jsaquella

that's one view. the league would make a case for the growth of the game showing rising attendance #s, soaring revenue in the billions, finding new tv avenues for showing games nationally without espn, and creating a wildly successful mid-season marquis game with the winter classic franchise, tweaking the rules to improve the flow of the game, increase offense and make it more entertaining to watch, allowing players to have a say via the competition committee, and theoretically created league-wide parity through cost control.

i think the game HAS improved in some respects, but league leadership has been divisive, and misguided in others, yet the owners continue to reward him with contract extensions worth millions.

me? i loathe him, and think he's been terrible for the sport.

Looking under every stone....Wonder what Borje Salming's doing..
- Jsaquella

i played on a junior team with his son anders 20 years ago in vaxholm, sweden. borje was coaching the girls team in that organization at the time. no clue what he's doing now. i doubt he's coaching.

that's one view. the league would make a case for the growth of the game showing rising attendance #s, soaring revenue in the billions, finding new tv avenues for showing games nationally without espn, and creating a wildly successful mid-season marquis game with the winter classic franchise, tweaking the rules to improve the flow of the game, increase offense and make it more entertaining to watch, allowing players to have a say via the competition committee, and theoretically created league-wide parity through cost control.

i think the game HAS improved in some respects, but league leadership has been divisive, and misguided in others, yet the owners continue to reward him with contract extensions worth millions.

me? i loathe him, and think he's been terrible for the sport.
- hammarby31

Obviously, a guy can't last for twenty years if he's all bad. I do applaud Bettman's eagerness to try innovative things, but it seems that the fore thought isn't always there.

Obviously, a guy can't last for twenty years if he's all bad. I do applaud Bettman's eagerness to try innovative things, but it seems that the fore thought isn't always there.
- Jsaquella

part of the problem is that he comes across as smug, unlikeable, who won't answer any question with a straight, honest answer and as a guy who gets off on being in power knowing people hate him.

Obviously, a guy can't last for twenty years if he's all bad. I do applaud Bettman's eagerness to try innovative things, but it seems that the fore thought isn't always there.
- Jsaquella

His greatest fault is trying to create parity in a league with not a broad enough revenue sharing plan because revenue from the gate is so out of whack in places like Philadelphia compared to Miami.

I never understood why the NHL didn't model a cap similar to MLB. A soft cap for large market teams to spend over if they wanted to pay a penalty which further enhanced revenue sharing.

His greatest fault is trying to create parity in a league with not a broad enough revenue sharing plan because revenue from the gate is so out of whack in places like Philadelphia compared to Miami.

I never understood why the NHL didn't model a cap similar to MLB. A soft cap for large market teams to spend over if they wanted to pay a penalty which further enhanced revenue sharing.
- ravishingone

i always thought a soft cap/luxury tax system was the way to go. i still don't understand why this hasn't happened.

Obviously, a guy can't last for twenty years if he's all bad. I do applaud Bettman's eagerness to try innovative things, but it seems that the fore thought isn't always there.
- Jsaquella

I think he has done some okay things, and some not so good.

I'm kind of along the line of he doesnt run the show all on his own. Its like the whole president thing. Does anyone really believe one guy is truly running things or has that much say in something?

To me Bettman has, and always will be a pawn of the owners, and corporations that have invested into the NHL. He takes the fall.

There have been some crazy ideas though, wasn't there something about making the puck colored or glowing in the dark or something?

i always thought a soft cap/luxury tax system was the way to go. i still don't understand why this hasn't happened.
- hammarby31

Because it makes sense.

Bettman is still Commissioner because he makes owners money -- enough of them to stay in position.

i always thought a soft cap/luxury tax system was the way to go. i still don't understand why this hasn't happened.
- hammarby31

Thoroughly agree, this new CBA is going to do nothing for small market teams. The fans have already come back in the established markets, which is going to drive up revenues. Of course, raising the ceiling and floor.

From a media coverage standpoint, it would have been great for the NHL to have "evil empire" teams. Just like baseball, the teams that spend the most, certainly don't win it very often. Everyone is supposedly on the same financial field with a hard cap, but that really isn't the case starting in the summer of '14.

Thoroughly agree, this new CBA is going to do nothing for small market teams. The fans have already come back in the established markets, which is going to drive up revenues. Of course, raising the ceiling and floor.

From a media coverage standpoint, it would have been great for the NHL to have "evil empire" teams. Just like baseball, the teams that spend the most, certainly don't win it very often. Everyone is supposedly on the same financial field with a hard cap, but that really isn't the case starting in the summer of '14.
- ravishingone

The problem has never really been a revenue issue, it's been a revenue disparity issue. Teams like the Flyers have a bottomless revenue pit.

Yeah, he supposedly turned down a few offers when the lockout ended. I wonder if he'd be willing to make a comeback now that Eakins is gone.
- Jsaquella

His head seems alright... whatever he went through must have been tough because he got emotional when he reflected on it for a brief moment:

His head seems alright... whatever he went through must have been tough because he got emotional when he reflected on it for a brief moment:


- Tomahawk

Well kudos to him for making it through and getting back to playing. He's a talented guy, and still young enough to have several years left.

The problem has never really been a revenue issue, it's been a revenue disparity issue. Teams like the Flyers have a bottomless revenue pit.
- Jsaquella

So to get the Flyers and other teams to share was to give them a reason to by using a soft cap with a luxury tax system. To convince large market teams to give more money to the small market teams for the greater good of the league has fallen on deaf ears again as witnessed by the latest CBA.

So to get the Flyers and other teams to share was to give them a reason to by using a soft cap with a luxury tax system. To convince large market teams to give more money to the small market teams for the greater good of the league has fallen on deaf ears again as witnessed by the latest CBA.
- ravishingone

Absolutely. Ed Snider HATES revenue sharing.

Absolutely. Ed Snider HATES revenue sharing.
- Jsaquella

Without question he does. The last CBA negotiations was all about leaning on the players to lower player costs to throw a bone to small and mid market teams. The contract loopholes were closed. However, we all know the salary cap will be going up in '14. Fans can be mad and outraged when the lockout was going, but of course they are back in growing numbers.

What do you figure in about 4 years, the same stories about small market teams are having trouble reaching the floor again?

Without question he does. The last CBA negotiations was all about leaning on the players to lower player costs to throw a bone to small and mid market teams. The contract loopholes were closed. However, we all know the salary cap will be going up in '14. Fans can be mad and outraged when the lockout was going, but of course they are back in growing numbers.

What do you figure in about 4 years, the same stories about small market teams are having trouble reaching the floor again?
- ravishingone

Certainly no more than 4 or 5 years at most. Unless there's some kind of revenue dip that causes the cap to stagnate.

Certainly no more than 4 or 5 years at most. Unless there's some kind of revenue dip that causes the cap to stagnate.
- Jsaquella

Or the value of the Canadian dollar goes into the toilet. Oh well, it is what it is. I need the Flyers to offer sheet someone soon, need to spice things up a little bit, or move up and draft Nichkushin.

If Obama has taught me anything, its you cant fight "his"... I mean "the" governement.... anymore.
- youarewrong

When could you ever?

Kent State anyone?

Absolutely. Ed Snider HATES revenue sharing.
- Jsaquella

That's just dumb. The NHL is a collective and Snider should be very much interested in helping maintain good fiscal health for all members. Within reason.

That's just dumb. The NHL is a collective and Snider should be very much interested in helping maintain good fiscal health for all members. Within reason.
- wolfhounds

He should be, but he isn't when he has to write a check

That's just dumb. The NHL is a collective and Snider should be very much interested in helping maintain good fiscal health for all members. Within reason.
- wolfhounds

yea yea trotsky

needless to say none of you guys found the proposed oil offers for coots tempting in the slightest, huh?

He should be, but he isn't when he has to write a check
- Jsaquella

We all understand that. Writing checks is heart-wrenching. But then as an intelligent business man, he should know a thriving, healthy league leads to bigger checks.

Although there's no doubt the problem is more complex with some owners being free-loaders who don't want to spend anything, therefore they won't successfully build any real fan base, but will still want league help. The worst kinds of ownership are the cheap ones. Seriously, cheap and sports franchise just don't go together.

Regardless, the league as a whole needs much better management, and that comes down on Gary "2-Time-Lockout" Bettman.