2018 HHOF

[Markwassillylaugher]

A guy who has presided over three work stoppages (and make no mistake, he's going for four) is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder.

I believe that he has added like 10+ teams to the league during his tenure. Without Betman, my Pens would have been in Nashville prior to the Preds! He is by far the best commish in the 3 major sports easy.

 

[dash]

I believe that he has added like 10+ teams to the league during his tenure. Without Betman, my Pens would have been in Nashville prior to the Preds! He is by far the best commish in the 3 major sports easy.

He does fight for teams to remain in their current cities, I'll give him that. As for the teams that have been added during his tenure as commissioner, not sure how much credit he deserves for that, he basically just looks for guys who want to own a team regardless of whether or not they have the money (see Spano, John and del Biaggio, Boots as a couple of examples). He essentially forced the city of Glendale to take money away from their police and fire departments in order to keep the Coyotes in that city. Currently, he's very dismissive regarding CTE and the issue of player safety regarding hits to the head playing the game of hockey.

And yeah, to me as a hockey fan, the three work stoppages are a big friggin deal. Why does he always have to shut down the league in order to get a deal done? Every time the CBA expires, it's the same old ploy. Meanwhile, the owners are making money hand over fist. I'm sure the owners love Bettman for fattening their wallets and that's why he's been commissioner all this time. By the way, are you ready for another work stoppage because it's coming.

 

[TheRobotDevil]

I know he has a Hart trophy but if St Louis is a Hall of Famer, Elias is a Hall of Famer.

I agree and I get people hate him. But I think Claude belongs in the HOF too tho. The guy was clutch and has the resume imo

 

[DragonfromTO]

He does fight for teams to remain in their current cities, I'll give him that. As for the teams that have been added during his tenure as commissioner, not sure how much credit he deserves for that, he basically just looks for guys who want to own a team regardless of whether or not they have the money (see Spano, John and del Biaggio, Boots as a couple of examples). He essentially forced the city of Glendale to take money away from their police and fire departments in order to keep the Coyotes in that city. Currently, he's very dismissive regarding CTE and the issue of player safety regarding hits to the head playing the game of hockey.

And yeah, to me as a hockey fan, the three work stoppages are a big friggin deal. Why does he always have to shut down the league in order to get a deal done? Every time the CBA expires, it's the same old ploy. Meanwhile, the owners are making money hand over fist. I'm sure the owners love Bettman for fattening their wallets and that's why he's been commissioner all this time. By the way, are you ready for another work stoppage because it's coming.

While I'm not exactly a Bettman fan it seems to me that there are probably a lot of people to blame for that before you get to Bettman, no?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

While I'm not exactly a Bettman fan it seems to me that there are probably a lot of people to blame for that before you get to Bettman, no?

I say the same thing anytime people get on a corporation for being “greedy” - that is literally why corporations exist. Their sole function is to generate profit for their shareholders (in this case, franchisees) and if Bettman has to convince some politicians to benefit his shareholders all he’s doing is his job.

 

[forty_three]

He does fight for teams to remain in their current cities,

Atlanta need not apply.

He didn't really do a lot for Columbus when the City, the team and Nationwide got into that squabble over the arena a few years ago.

Had we not settled it, I guarantee the Jackets would have been in Quebec or Vegas.

 

[dash]

While I'm not exactly a Bettman fan it seems to me that there are probably a lot of people to blame for that before you get to Bettman, no?

Oh there was plenty of people to assess blame in this fiasco, but Bettman was holding the Glendale's city council proverbial feet to the fire demanding they make their $25 million dollar payments when he knew darn well they didn't have the money (or would have to tap money budgeted to other departments) to come up with the cash. The whole Coyotes fiasco has been a mess for a long, long time, but will hopefully come to an end in a few years time.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

The whole Coyotes fiasco has been a mess for a long, long time, but will hopefully come to an end in a few years time.

Shit we've been saying since 2008 lol.

 

[dash]

Shit we've been saying since 2008 lol.

Ain't it the truth. I'm just waiting for 43 to get all stabby when Seattle comes into the league followed by the Coyotes moving to Quebec City and then Columbus moving back to the Western Conference to keep the conferences balanced.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Ain't it the truth. I'm just waiting for 43 to get all stabby when Seattle comes into the league followed by the Coyotes moving to Quebec City and then Columbus moving back to the Western Conference to keep the conferences balanced.

TBH, if CBJ had stayed out west they'd probably have a playoff series win by now.

One of those "be careful what you wish for" things. I'd say ditto Detroit but Holland really flubbed the end of the Lidstrom era to the point that they probably would've sucked in either conference.

 

[forty_three]

Ain't it the truth. I'm just waiting for 43 to get all stabby when Seattle comes into the league followed by the Coyotes moving to Quebec City and then Columbus moving back to the Western Conference to keep the conferences balanced.

Detroit is further West. Send their ugly asses back.

TBH, if CBJ had stayed out west they'd probably have a playoff series win by now.

I sincerely believe this to be true.