Who votes on Bettman being fired, and who would you want to fill in for him?

Question

he took fighting out of hockey

he also sent the NHL on strike for a year

he is from the NBA so he may be trying to s***w hockey over

and the big one is the switch from ESPN to versus

Do these things help you

Answer 1

I live on the same street as a couple of Ottawa Senators players..............they love Bettman and can't understand why the fans hate him.  I tried to explain ti them, but they weren't listening.

Then last night, in an interview with TSN, Lidstrom tells the panel he and Bettman are very good friends and he appreciates everything that Bettman has brought to the game.

So, it seems the players like them (I have to confide in you people...............most Senators players don't like Melnyk)

Answer 2

why do ppl hate him

im a huge nhl fan a never saw why ppl hated him did something happen

Answer 3

all great reasons let me tell ya, just because you see other idiots going on about how horrible he is doesn't mean that you have to join those idiots

Answer 4

I wouldn't fire him... He has expanded the NHL market... he hasn't been perfect but the NHL is a imperfect league.   I think he has done a pretty good job on keeping the NHL's head above the waters.  

I know that it is very popular to attack Bettman... if you are Canadian you are pissed because he was the commissioner who allowed a movement of many teams going South; and If you are American you are mad because of the expansion... get over it, he needs to focus on the economics of the sport.  Fans don't seem to understand that.... He has held together owners to a unified and gambling vision of the league and kept labor disputes to a minimum (a one year strike for a radical expansion plan is not that bad).

I'm no fan of Bettman but I can appreciate the struggle he has had.  I think he has done a exemplary job considering what he has had to deal with.  Maybe some of his plans were flops but at least he has had some visionary plans for the league... he could have done nothing but maintain the NHL but he gambled because he thought it would ensure a better future for the league.

Answer 5

Where I agree with you:

He is trying to reduce the violence in hockey, and doing a poor job of it.  Alienating both the fight-lovers and the people who wants clean games.

Not only did he preside over the season-canclling lockout, but he also bungled the deal in the '90 in the same way and that season was nearly cancelled.

Where I disagree with you:

Versus offered a much better financial offer than ESPN did. That was a short-sighted move trading league presence and advertising for cash, sure, but it's a mistake alot of people in his position would have made.

The NBA out to destroy the NHL thing is just silly.  

Things to add:

He has let traditional markets lose their teams and has made no effort to replace these teams (or, in the case of Minnesota, he took 12 years to do it).  

Under his administration, teams have been pushed in the American southeast at the expense of north- and mid-

western cities that have more support for the sport of hockey.

The San Jose Sharks were created in 1990 because O'Neill didn't want to lose a hockey presence in Minnesota.  One of the first things Bettman did three years later was to approve their move to Dallas.

_______

A good commissioner has to push the sport forward while respecting the game's history and traditions to appease the traditional fans.  It's not an easy job, but it can be done.  Bettman has succeeded in pushing the game forward, but he has shown a complete lack of repect for the history and tradition of the game and has alienated many of his audience in the process.  

It's definitely time for a change.

Answer 6

When did he take fighting out of hockey?  There were more fights per game this year than any year since 1996-97

He didn't send the NHL on strike.  The owners (Bettman's boss) chose to lock the players out for a year.  They would have done that with or without Bettman

He didn't switch from ESPN to Vs.  He took ESPN's offers to the owner.  The owners voted 30-0 to reject it.  ESPN chose not to make another offer at the time, and Vs did.

Mike

The NHL Governors vote to move the North Stars to Dallas was held May 16, 1992.  John Zeigler was the NHL President presiding

Also, The difference between games in Minnesota was 7 yrs and 6mos (April 13, 93 Chicago beat the Stars 3-2 (I was there), October 11, 2000 - Flyers tied the Wild)

Answer 7

He's ruined hockey's reputation with some terrible decisions.  Has no concept of marketing and doesn't understand the game itself.  The game has improved in some ways (skill players allowed to play) and hurt in others (not a lot of fighting or hitting, teams don't play every team, poor refs).  Ratings are up a little, but should have been better with the awesome matchup we had.  Maybe time will help.  The lockout hurt BAD.  Have no idea who would replace him but i think I could do a better job.

Answer 8

I don't believe he took fighting out of hockey, though I do believe he wouldn't be sad to see it go.  As for the rest, definitely!!  Fire him.  He's been a curse upon the NHL and needs to be removed.  The crazy thing, the owners LOVE him.

edit:  he's had 2 lockout seasons on his watch.  94-95, the 2004 year.  2 lockouts isn't bad, it's horrific!

Answer 9

Bettman's okay.  Salary cap gives every fan of every city at least some hope now.  He's in a tough spot, he works for the owners, not for the fans.  Gretzky lacks the IQ to be a commish.

Answer 10

FIRE HIM, Yzerman replaces him

Answer 11

I do, and i would put Gretzky in his place.  Who better than the Great One?