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After doing some research, we have come to the conclusion that Gary Bettman’s email address is:
So be sure to take some time, send Gary a “friendly” email, and let him know what you think about the job he has been doing as commissioner of the NHL.
And be sure to tell him that everyone over at FireBettman says “hi” 
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· FREE Email
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· 12 signs Bettman’s job may be in jeopardy
· Thanks
· Time to send a message… No more hockey in the Desert!
· Gary Bettman XM radio show debuts today
· Bettmans controls what you read on the Internet…
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It can’t be that easy. But then again, it could be heavily monitored by someone else. I just may try it though.
I am guessing that it is probably monitored, and then the “good” emails are sent along to Mr. Bettman. I think it’s worth the shot…
Who knows though, he probably has to change his address every week because of all the hate mail that he gets
CC:’d
Dear Gary,
Just wanted to thank you for the marvelous job you’re doing with the NHL. The ratings for our games have increased since you’ve tweaked the NHL with new rules, held fast during the lock out, put games on VS., and moved the All-star game to such a great evening. Pure genius! I don’t know what we’d do without you as NHL commissioner.
Your friend always,
David Stern
Gary,
Thanks for ruining the sport I love. All the progress made last year (remember “Thanks you Fans”?) has been washed away this year with you poor officiating. You are your crew of loser officials have ruined a sport. I hope the leage goes further down the tubes and a new leage starts up. I wouldn’t hire your officials to flip burgers @ Mickey D’s…
Sorry, that’s what I get for writing when I’m pissed…
Thanks for ruining the sport I love. All the progress made last year (remember “Thank You Fans”?) has been washed away this year with your poor officiating. You are your crew of loser officials have ruined a sport. I hope the league goes further down the tubes and a new league starts up. I wouldn’t hire your officials to flip burgers @ Mickey D’s…
Thanks for the e-mail address. As a ticked-off Predators fan, I just sent Mr. Bettman (or his lackey) an e-mail about why I am not planning to renew my season tickets for next year. If any of you watched the series with the Sharks, you will understand. Ron Wilson is a little girl who should have gotten smacked down for his crying after Game 1 and his petulant display after Game 2. Instead, his team gets every call and the Predators have to try to play without touching the other team’s players. It was sufficiently disgraceful that rather than expanding from a partial plan with 2 tickets to a fulls-season plan with 3 or 4, I am thinking of passing on tickets altogether.
Another Bettman victory for the NHL!
Hi Gary,
I’m taking a break from my studying during finals week to send a short note. I hope you, or someone directly associated with your office takes the time to read it. It’s short, sweet, and to the point.
I’m a fan of hockey. I love the game. I loved playing it, and I love watching it. I love watching it live, I love watching it on TV. I love watching it with friends that haven’t played hockey, or don’t know that game, but are eager to learn the rules. The game is intense; it’s fast paced, high impact, and easy to enjoy.
Well, it was easy to enjoy. I don’t have access to the Vs. network, and I’m not quite ready to support the league with a large financial commitment for the Center Ice package. I’m not an economist (though I am a student studying entrepreneurship and business development), but I’m having a hard time understanding why the NHL considers themselves capable of demanding a premium. I don’t see the MLB doing it, the NBA seems to be available on a couple widely available networks, even college football makes their games available. All three have a wider fan base. Look, the Google Video decision was a step in the right direction, but it’s a patch on the wrong hole in the sinking ship.
There’s got to be a better way of making the game immediately available to the fans. If you can’t think of one, or your team of analysts and consultants can’t think of one, then maybe consider posting more internship opportunities in the League offices. There’s a lot of us out here that want to see the game THRIVE. Take advantage of it. For us, for the game.
Regards,
MA
Dear Mr. Bettman,
It is real hard for me to believe your not trying to screw up the game on purpose!! There are no words I can come up with to describe what you have done to my favorite sport. Guess I go watch American idol or something. At least it is interesting and on a tv channel I can get.
Thanks for nothing,
Joe
None of it will reach Bettman. It’ll get to the NBA though, under the folder “A Job Well Done.”
Hello Mr. Bettman,
‘P’lease ‘L’et m’E’ ‘A’nnounce ‘S’everal ‘E’xtensions of cong’R'atulations ‘E’quipped with my deepe’S't ‘I’nherent ‘G’ratitude for this ‘N’hl season!
Thank you,
Gered Nasuti
Write something like that and maybe it’ll make it through the filters. Of course, I’m sure he’s too stupid to figure out what it says.
Dear Sir:
I have been thinking alot lately, and as an avid hockey fan, I feel that I have come up with some tips that may help improve the game. Granted, I understand that I am only a fan, but I feel that every fan should be heard and respected. First thing that you should do to improve the game, is quit. Then, you should tell whomever is taking over for you to forget about expansion, and concentrate on placing teams in hockey hotbeds that will be well received on a yearly basis. After you have completed points 1 and 2, you should quit. Oh, did I say that already?? Well, maybe you should quit again just to make sure we heard you. As well, I would like to see you quitting on tv, but not versus. I would like to see it on a channel that people actually watch, like the cooking network. Did you ever think of approaching the cooking network for a tv deal?? Maybe you should…more people watch that channel than VS. In closing, I understand that I am only a fan, but the fans need to be heard. Not only heard, but actually listened to. Have you ever done a public appearance and not been booed?? Do you kids get booed at school performances?? That should give you a clue…obviously you have heard the fans, but you haven’t listened to them.
I am so happy to see a site like this. The NHL has such great potential right now. We are on the brink of a great NHL if we can begin to focus on what’s really important. I admire your work here and I would love nothing more than to see hockey thrive once again.
I used to be a real big fan, hockey was a real tough sport, played hard. Now all it is an expensive US College game, it is boring to watch. All the excitement and toughness is gone, its become girls hockey, no hitting left, the new small talented players can stand in front of the net and God help the defenseman if he even looks at him. This was a real tough mans sport and now its Basketball….boring
fuck you pablo…if you honestly believe what you wrote, i hope to god you are 12 years old or took a break from banging your head against the wall to write it. the preds were disgraceful and you fans were even worse. i don’t know that there has ever been such a concentration of ill-informed people willing to look like idiots as you raging hicks.
you predneck fans are like a bunch of special ed kids, failing math for the sixth time, stamping around screaming at people that they are doing things wrong with hopes that the rules of mathematics will change in your favor…well, they won’t. you and your team get f’s and look like douchebags doing it.
congratulations on your ignorance…i hear it’s fun.
Pablo, Pablo, Pablo. Where do I start. Ron Wilson, coach of the Sharks that for two years in a row now has trounced your team 4-1, did not “cry”. He never shed a tear. Oh, if by “cry” you mean address the officiating regarding numerous cheap shots, kneeings, elbows and boardings (how many suspensions were there?), then I guess he was.
Seeing Cheechoo get simultaneously kneed and elbowed that resulted in an injury as well as loss of teeth… seeing Bernier boarded and not get up, oh hell… I could go on and on. And it’s not about toughness, it’s about respect for the fellow player. That’s when this happens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhJlV-hJzUc
So go ahead and return your seasons tickets. I’ve been a Sharks fan since ‘91, and watching us blow it last season was..well, testing. But our losing wasn’t Bettman’s fault. Nor were all the penalties your team rightly took… it was no conspiracy, trust me.
I love this game and have the good fortune of playing (ECHL), and it’s going to take more than Bettman to sink this great sport.
Let’s try to address some facts:
Ron Wilson ducked his head into the post-game (Game 2) press conference to announce he had no comment. That’s after whining after Game 1 about the officiating. Yes, that’s “crying” (albeit in a figurative use of the word that might escape some of you).
Cheechoo did not get simultaneously kneed and elbowed and he did not lose any teeth. I will try to find a link to video of the play in question, and I will happily apologize if you can find video and show me where he gets hit in the head. No hit in the head, no way to lose teeth on the hit. Again, if I am wrong, I will apologize.
The referees did not allow Tootoo to play at all. Yes, he is the kind of chippy player that gets under the other team’s skin (most teams have one guy like that). If you don’t understand or remember the context of how he was being hindered in playing hockey in the playoffs, then review the situation near the end of the regular season where Mike Pri-Modano gets hit, swings his stick at Tootoo for daring to check him, and then a teammate of Modano charges Tootoo, who reacts by decking the guy. We can argue about whether what Tootoo did was cheap or not. But for the sake of this discussion, let me make this point: the NHL suspended him. He served his suspension. That should have been the end of it, but it wasn’t. He couldn’t take the ice in the playoffs without having four eyes glued to him, and any contact at all was a penalty. Now, if what he did against Dallas was so egregious that he should not be allowed to play in the NHL, fine, let the league office make that determination. But to allow him back on the ice, only to be called for phantom penalties, is to penalize the entire team. I heard a Preds’ assistant on local radio, whom I trust to be telling the truth, state that they have reviewed film and there was one call on Tootoo when there was no contact whatsoever; they sent the film to the league office for comment, but none of us is holding his breath waiting for an answer. I was even pleading for Trotz to sit Tootoo, not because he doesn’t have value, but because he was a penalty magnet and it was hurting the team (directly, with the phantom calls, and indirectly, because it was obvious that they had gotten into his head and he was playing tentatively).
The officiating in the series was one-sided. I think it had to do with Tootoo and a form of delayed punishment of the entire team. That’s too bad, because for two games and two periods, it was a great series. The serial penalty calls on the Predators made a mockery of it from the middle of Game 3 until the end. That doesn’t mean that the Sharks wouldn’t have won a series officiated in a less obviously bad fashion, but we can’t know that. The joy of the series was taken away by the repeated calls, and I stand by my assertion that many were iffy, some were downright inventions, and the vast majority went one way. But I reiterate: show me video that shows that I am wrong, and I will abjectly apologize to all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyQOSzr_j0w
Here is a view of the video of the Preds-Sharks fight you posted above - hmmm, who started the fight?
If you said Jordan Tootoo, you have an exciting career ahead of you as an NHL official!
PS: I got a full-season plan, only 2 tickets, for the sake of the Predators and keeping hockey in Nashville. If I had made a decision on the merits of the NHL and its commissioner, I wouldn’t have done it, but I did it for the city and my kids. It’s still fun to watch the sport, despite the NHL’s best efforts to make it otherwise.
First, I would like to express my gratitude to Gary Betteman for officially destroying the greatest sport in all of North America. I mean come on! Teams in Nashville, Atlanta, Carolina, Miami(Fla.)and Phoenix? The Predators almost moved to Hamilton, Ontario. A place where people knew that hockey existed prior to 1995! 30 teams, with no team in Winnipeg or Quebec City. A team in Minnesota that is not the North Stars(instead we have the WILD!!) No fighting of any sort. I long for the days of Bob Probert amassing 300 penalty minutes, The Nordiques vs. The Canadiens in Montreal, at the Forum. 21 teams that all could boast at least two if not three quality scoring lines. Instead, we have hockey in “Fair-Weather” markets, where the fans show up if their team is winning and could not be located when the team is struggling, as though they were in a witness protection program. Hockey is not a FAD for the west and south to jump on when it’s convenient! That is what Mr. Bettman has given us in his tenure as commissioner, and that is why I would welcome anyone who is willing to take over(provided Bettmen will ever relinquish his post)and steer The NHL in the right direction, the way John Zeigler did.
Dear Gary,
Are you sure you’re even a man? Do you have any idea how boring and wimpy you’re making hockey? Hockey has always been known as a physical sport where hitting and fighting took a big role in the game. However, in the “new nhl” if you make any physical contact at all you get a penalty, and fighting is a lot more rare. Do you realize that you are losing a lot of ratings? Fans love the violence. It makes the game more exciting and fun to watch, but now it’s mostly boring and annoying. I think you’re the worst thing to ever happen to hockey, and you’re the worst commissioner ever and should be replaced.
hello all.
as an australian and a new fan of this wonderful game… it pains me to see it being destroyed by this disgusting little man, and his penchant for US teams. i wonder if i will ever see a team from a cold climate, and established market get a fair go from the officials again! hopefully one day soon, the team that plays the best hockey will dictate the results of a season, and not television ratings, in warmer less established hockey playing cities!
Just dropped him a note regarding the Octopus twirling decree.
I urge all other fans to do the same. If he can do away with one of the strongest, finest traditions in hockey, imagine what else he will try to take away!
I have loved the sport of hockey for many years. This year, I am done watching any games and seriously doubt that I will even watch to see who wins the Stanley Cup. I am absolutely sick and tired of the officials deciding the games. One team is allowed to do as they please and should the other team touch them, its a penalty. Is is a wonder that the team that got eight or nine power plays vs two or three for the other team, won. Something has to change. This sport is being dictated by money not talent. Its sad.
Have any of you guys gotten a reply from bettman
I just wanted to write a note and express my dissatisfaction about the job that you are doing as our Commissioner. I am still upset about the 99′ series that you and your officials caused the Sabres in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup. I know your not blind and could clearly see that Hall’s foot was in the crease, however you and your officals decided not to review the goal and caused us the Cup. I have a couple of ideas for you to consider:
First off there are 82 games in the season therefore, there should be a home and home series with the opposing conference (which would equal 30 games) then there should be a home and home series with the same conference (which would equal 20 games) therefore you have about 32 games left to play in the division which in my opinion is way too long.
Secondly I am impressed that you changed the way the season is played because now that I live in Arizona it took me 5 years Mr. Bettman 5 years to see the Sabres play in the Desert. Now hopefully it will only take 1 year.
Thirdly you should consider changing the playoff overtime scenario… instead of playing until someone scores lets do the same thing as in the regular season 5 minutes of 4 on 4 and then an Shootout (then it might have not caused the Sabres the Cup!)
Its better to call the league offices at (212) 789-2000
NHL fans should inundate Gary over three issues. One, the porr officaiting. It has been bad in the past, but so far this year, it is absoutely horrendous, the worst I have ever seen by far.
Second, during the cup presentation, he should hand the cup to the captain and get out of the way, He talks way too much and everything he says is worhtless.
Third, he should quit, He is ruining the game.
I don’t have a problem with the new rules, I like them. I prefer to see high scoring, fast paced, exciting games with a winner and a loser than the trapping/clutching/grabbing 0-0 tie BS we had to put up with between 1995 and 2004.
What I have a problem with is hockey in Arizona, and hockey in Tennessee.
People there don’t like hockey, why would they? They can’t play it growing up because it never gets cold enough to wear a scarf, let alone go ice skating, so why the hell would they care about hockey? Meantime great markets like Hamilton and Winnipeg are ignored simply because they’re north of the border.
This last round of childish bullying by the league office against Jim Balsillie is outrageous. All the man wants to do is buy a failing franchise and move it somewhere that it will succeed. Bettman should want this too, but he’s too stupid to understand what makes a franchise succeed or fail. He needs to be replaced by someone with a hockey background who will make smart decisions on the direction of the league, not try to copy the NBA like some glassy eyed little kid whos hero is David Stern.
Dear Gary
You really should let Jim buy the Coyotes. Don’t let your ego get in the way just because he is a better business man and would do more for hockey being an owner than you have done being the commish.
Love Trevor
N.E. Ohio blacked out of Versus for Pittsburgh Playoff Games - WHY? Because the games are carried in Pittsburgh by FSN Pittsburgh - BUT We don’t get that channel here on Time Warner in Youngstown, Oh - We get FSN OHIO so we don’t get any of the Pittsburgh Playoff games that are carried on Versus (heck, if they’d make it to the final we might get all the games blacked out). I keep emailing the NHL and they just say the same thing. Since the games are carried on FSN Pittsburgh they are blacked out in N.E. Ohio — really stupid isn’t it.
Give the Fans a break! Let them see the games. GO CAPS!
J. Witwer
you should let winnipeg have a team . don’t let your ego get in the way .you no we have a new arena and we can support a hockey team
I think Garry should look at history that the Coyotes were the Winnipeg Jets who folded because of not enough fans to support them and it willbe the same thing. I think if their is a byer for the coyotes let them go to Hamilton where there ic fan support for another team. So please get off your high horses and put a team in Hamilton and keep a CANADIAN team here
please Gary stop your protests and put a CANADIAN team in Hamilton so please step down and let some one with brains do it
All I can say is GET YOUR ASS OUT of putting a team in Winnipeg, and put it in Hamilton .I am from Winnipeg as there is no fan base hence the jets or whoever the team goes where the new owner could make a profit and go to Hamilton where there is enough fans for profit so Bettman quit before you ruin hockey in CANADA
Why are you such an idiot :
1) Afternoon playoff hockey games instead of Saturday evening games. This ain’t Basketball or Football. NASCAR and NFL are moving towards more evening events. IDIOT.
2) Hockey in southern US. I went to 2 games in Tampa recently and the place was half full of Canadians, tickets were being given away, and the place still wasn’t full. These teams would be much more supported in the North (including a second team in the Toronto area). IDIOT.
Let someone who loves the game make the strategic decisions. If you feel you must remain involved, you can work 9-5 in you office counting the money. Oh, and don’t be afraid of taking very long lunches. IDIOT.
Paul M
Life time NHL fan.
Toronto
just quit and go get laid you have done enough damage to our CANADIAN teams
Gary,
Hi. Sidney here. I just want to compliment on the wonderful job you’ve done with the game; especially in this years playoffs. Although I hear rumblings of a bias towards our team thus far it is under the table. Lets hope it stays like that. If the media ever knew the refs were on the hook to get us to the finals and win in 7 it would be both our careers
I tried to talk to the guys in the room about Game 5 as we got a little carried away. With some of the cheap shots we gave the refs had to call them. We will be much better in game 6. Are the refs ready? We’re supposed to get a couple power plays in the beginning of the game so we can get a lead right? Hey, how did you like that dive I took? That sure was a beauty, eh?
OK, Gary. Well I know you are busy. As long as the refs are on board we will win game 6 and force a game 7.
Are you coming over for dinner after the finals? I reserved us a cozy little cottage with candlelight and no one will know us. I can’t wait. I have the eatable undies that you like.
Love you Gary.
Cidney Crosby
PS - Malkin says hi. Hey I was wondering if you would mind if he joined us?
please garry just quit!!!!
Gary,
Eat a dick.
Dear Gary:
Cheaters never prosper.
Your self-proclaimed model franchise won the cup. Now can we have some integrity returned to the sport please? Good rigging job by the officials. I can see you took a few NBA tricks with you over to the NHL. Your days should be numbered if there is such a thing as karma. You stink, Bettman. How many Stanley Cups will make you and your daughter Cindy happy now?
I hope you get busted soon. I hope the FBI gets after you, and soon.
Sincerely,
Mr. Bettman,
I grew up with hockey. Love the sport, and was taught about sportsmanship.
However, a big, I mean BIG chicken bone is stuck in my throat.
What in the world has become of the greatest sport in the world????
Are you serious??? It was all set in stone, months ago with the hockey promo of a certain somebody watching the Wings carry the Cup around the ice, and than proclaiming “that’ll never happen again”.
Need I say more. You sir, have belittled, and made the NHL into the new WWF, on skates.
Shame on you
Bettman is the biggest asshole there is. Did you see the hard-on he had when presenting the Cup to his little side kick asshole? Crosby is the reason you don’t have 21 year old’s as captains….unless your Stevie Y.!! He would have shook all opposing team members hands after the game AND then celebrated. What a fool Crosby is! He’ll get his!!
mr .bettman should be fired he has no business to stop jim balsillie to buy the phoenix coyotes and move them to hamilton.it should be up to jerry moyes and jim balsillie.its none of mr .bettmans business he should stay out of it.
The e-mail address is garybettman@nhl.com
Gary Bettman needs to do what is right for once in his life - resign and let someone who actually loves the game take over. I have not met one single fan who likes Bettman. He should get a clue.
Dear Mr. Bettman,
I wish you all the best in your endeavour to keep a team in Phoenix - will you personally bankroll Reindorf’s bid, or are you divying that up among the owners of the Islanders, the Predators and the Hurricanes? I’m amazed Reindorf would take such a risk as to buy a hockey team in a market like Phoenix. I hope the team is not in bankruptcy again in another few years, otherwise even those morons who’ve supported your governance of the NHL will have no recourse but to question your ability.
Regards,
Your #1 fan.
PS. Make sure to get your pets (ie. the NHL Executive) spayed or nuetered.
Bettman is a JOKE plain and simple…
Gary
The Leafs suck again this year. So do you. So does your lack of support for a team in Hamilton. Your such an arrogant American that you can’t see what’s in front of your face. CANADA IS HOCKEY, down south aint, dumb fuck.
Can we commission Bobby Orr to get Gary’s job? The league may not survive with this clown at the helm.
its time to get rid of this turd. a player can get his head taken off with no call but dont you dare tap someone on the hands or its 2 min. The owners need to put a real hockey person in the commmissioners office. My vote is for blues president john davidson. I would like to hear any thoughts on this idea but i dont think there is anyone out there that knows the game more and has more passion for the game than jd. he deserves it and i think if properly put forward (the good of the game) he would take on the task.
Gary,
I’ve been a hockey player and fan of the NHL for 40 plus years. However, since you’ve been involved with the NHL, year by year my interest in the NHL has dwindled to the point I no longer support the NHL. I am Canadian and hockey is our game; I look forward to reading of your demise, only then with the NHL see prosperity and future growth.
Please do the right thing and resign. You are a disgrace to the NHL and North America. Also, please stay stay away from Canada and the Olympics. You are worse than the Taliban.
Thanks.
Gary,
I agree. Hockey the last few years is nothing but a specialty team exhibition. Constant penalties called. Bettman has completely ruined it. I used to love the game before he ruined it. I never thought I’d live to see the day when I was bored with hockey.
Bettman, and I would call you Mr.Bettman for lack of respect, like a bad relationship, give it up.
You have no clue, stick to basketball, its an American game..but wait…invented by Canadians. Oh my lord..no money in that eh? Money money money you sorry useless piece of crap. Have you ever done any usefull work in your life> Wahing daddy’s car don’t cont.
austin,
You must either;
a) hate hockey or
b) be a Pittsburgh Penguin fan.
Congrats Ass Hole, Your damn golden boy finally won an olympic gold and a stanley cup. I say now he should retire or be put on a cross and burned. You know its fixed when for an olympic gold medal match you have 2 of your nhl refrees be part of it. I say you should retire asap and return to your previous beloved sport of basketball and leave the NHL to its true fans.
OH and once again u fail at life… seriously were going to punish the best player in the nhl for hitting someone r u joking me… lets have matt cooke run all over the place giving head shots man u suck. Why all the hate towards alex ovechkin, i bet if that was crosby ud give him another commercial or money, i mean wtf crosby is a damn baby he lives with the owner of pitt seriously like come on get ur own place.. but seriously this has pushed me over the edge im done with this shit, u need to leave along with everyone else and let hockey players play the game damn u stuck up pitt fan.. all hail crosby wtf, no wonder why the won the stanley cup u prob rigged it all didnt u.
Gary Bettman, and that funny looking clown, that is always around him are ruining the NHL, and causing players to be seriously harmed. They should both be charged with multiple counts of assult. Assult on hockey fans, Assult on the game, and Assult on the players. Step down and let some one who has respect for the fans, players, and the Game. Sincerly a really pissed off Boston Bruins Fan!
Wow! I thought I was the only Buttman hater out there. I have absolutely no idea how Buttman performed in a drug and thug infested NBA (nothing more than full contact ping-pong IMHO), but I am also of the opinion that he has been an unmitigated disaster for the sport of professional hockey.
He expanded the league to the point where a team (pick a team, any team) may have one two and in rare cases, three premimum players, but gone are the days of entire lines as legends.
While the business of hockey continues to make in-person games entirely unaffordable, the sport has suffered terribly from the over-dilution of it’s talent.
30 Teams, absolute max, and even that number stretches it.
It was rumored that Buttman left the NBA because at 5 feet f**k-all, he couldn’t stand being around anybody over 6 feet.
Buttman, leave. Don’t bother with the teary farwells, just leave. You have been, and remain an unmitigated disaster for the sport of hockey.
Diane, your suggestion that Bobby Orr should hold Bettman’s job is … brilliant. I have more respect for Mr. Orr’s hockey stick than I ever would have for Buttman.
I would also vote for Yzerman, Bourque, Modano, and a host of others that space prevents from naming.
But NOT Gretzky, a buttman clone.
Certainly Mr Orr.
And maybe me. Hey, even I could do a better job than Buttman.
Having just been berated by a beer buddy for my comment that I could do a better job than Buttman, here is a list of priorities to be undertaken on the first day on the job:
1) reduce the League from 36 to 30 teams maximum. I would fight for a return to a 26 team League, but would anticipate a huge fight from those mediocre players that would not cut it in a more competitive League;
2) re-instate both the Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets;
3) remove the salary cap. A team’s payroll would be determined by it’s fan base;
4) remove the ‘instant replay’. I would return officiating to the on-ice refs/linesmen;
5) institute the Olympic standard for icing. Too many players are needlessly hurt chasing, and being checked from behind, chasing an obvious ice. If players wish to intentionally hurt, or intimidate the opposition, well, gloves off;
6) increase the penalty for injurious high-sticking to an automatic game misconduct; and
7) in order to qualify for a franchise, cities would be required to cut a franchise the same tax incentives that other ‘regular’ business’ get. Rinks would be owned by the League, not by either the team or it’s host city.
That would be day one …
Ron, Excellent post. I think Bettman has destroyed the game I love.
Here are my recommendations that I would implement
1) Contraction/Relocation
Bettman’s ego is part of the issue and he will never acknowledge that hockey simply is not selling in several of his expansion cities. That being said I would:
a. Phoenix to Winnipeg - Loved the old Jets
b. Tampa to Quebec - The NHL lost a GREAT rivalry in losing the Quebec - Montreal wars
c. Nashville - Southern Ontario -Bettman’s ego be damned Balsillie gets a team for Hamilton. It would give Canada more franchises and with revenue sharing they can compete
d. Columbus - Gone
e. New Jersey or the Islanders - gone
2) Remove the Salary Cap
All the cap is doing is justifying Bettman’s mistakes in horrible markets. Prior to the cap we had Tampa winning, Calgary in the finals. After the cap was implemented Detroit won.
Do not penalize the successful markets keeping the league alive. When the big markets do well the game does well. More people will tune in to a Chicago - Rangers or Detroit - Flyers final then Columbus and Tampa
3) One Referee
The two referee system is horrible. The games have no flow and have become special teams fests with questionable calls all over. There are even allegations that Bettman gave directives to officials to call things his way or they wouldn’t work the playoffs and finals. I give props to Kerry Fraser who retired rather then dictate outcomes of games
4) Remove the Instigator
Restore some of the honor to the game. The game now is filled with chicken bleep Euros and pests talking, doing face rubs, without fear of repercussion. It would also force the players to have more respect knowing that Boogard or Orr would be able to pummel them without issue.
5) Goalie Equipment
Look at old clips of Bernie Parent, Ken Dryden, PAtrick Roy even Brodeur. They looked pretty much like players with goalie pads. Now they look like Michelin Men. Along with players, goalies have become better athletes and makes it harder to score.
Some may argue that players shoot harder today and I say BS. Bobby Hull shot 95 miles and hour and few NHL players exceed that today. Al Iafrate shot over 100 in skills competition.
Possible Replacements:
Top Choice:
Gretzky
He would do what is best for the game. If ANYONE can get the NHL back on ESPN or a PAYING network contract it’s Gretzky. He adds immediate credibility to the game the second he would be hired
Second Choice
Brian Burke
Love him or hate him, he is passionate about the game and respects the game and the honor that used to be a part of it. He understands that the physical element and fighting does help to sell the game and would remove the instigator rule.
Good morning Black Knight ..
I am in full concurrance with you with the exception of Gretzkey as a future Commissioner. He was instrumental is executing Buttman’s expansion, an expansion that Gretzkey had to know would be injurious to the League.
Gretzkey may have been “The Great One” at one time, but today he is just another suit looking to fill his pockets. I do not have any respect for Gretzkey now. Had tons for him when he played, but certainly not now. He is a Buttman clone.
Other than this one item, you have a number of brilliant ideas. See? Damned near *anybody* has a better grasp - than Buttman - of that what needs to be done.
Including you and I, just ordinary fans.
BK, an addendum to my last …
Brian Burke would certainly be on my short list for Commissioner … he knows the game, and more importantly, he’s FOR the game.
Yep. Brian Burke would work.
And no offence to Mr. Burke, but damned near anybody would be an improvement over Buttman.
Thanks for ruining the sport I grew up watching since I was 5. I just
watched the wings have 10 minor penalties in 1 game. This league is a
joke, the tic-tac penalties are out of control. I’m done, I watched
my last game tonight. Screw you, band geek!!!! Maybe if the laced up
The skates one time in your life you would know what true fans want.
I hope the league continues to go down the tubes. I heard the Outdoor
Channel is interested in the 2011 playoffs!!!
What is the game of hockey coming to when the officiating body for the league can blatentely control a game,or even a series.Everybody knows ,announcers for both sides,commentators and sports annalists.It is a good way to kill any growth in the popularity of a sport that only a short time ago was on the verge of destruction from a major strike.Somebody do something to save the Great Game Of Hockey,or we will be forced to watch it Die,RIP~National Hockey League
I can’t believe there would ever be a better Commissioner of this great game than Steve Yserman,nobody can deny his loyalty or love of the game.It might be the only thing that could save Hockey.
Bettman, Don’t fire him, SHOOT THE BASTARD. When some asshole has his so called referee’s make phoney penalty calls on CANADIAN teams ( control the game ) in order to advancse hockey in the US, kiss my ass. When you see such garbage, that is when interest in the so called sport goes to hell. Battman, you have to be repaced. You are PURE SHIT.
Dear Gary,
As a fellow New Yorker I SHOULD have a tremendous amount of respect for you. Unfortunately, I cannot respect someone who has absolutely destroyed one of the greatest games ever created. Mr. Bettman, it is your responsibility to protect the integrity of this game. The NHL is the most influential hockey league in the world yet you consistently “sell out” the sport. Hockey was once played 5 on 5, now it is decided by “power play” contests. This is the equivalent to watching Kobe and Lebron shoot free throws to decide the NBA Championship. The real DIE HARD fans have kept this league afloat for years and it is foolish to overlook their loyalty. The new fans that you have accumulated (primarily in Pittsburgh and Washington) will not stand by their teams once their success ends. Remember that the Penguins fans did not show support for the team when they began to slip during the early 2000’s, despite winning two cups only ten years earlier. You run the risk of alienating the real fans by “increasing scoring”. Fans do not want to see more goals if they are only being scored on special teams. Fans once cheered for great hockey, now they chant like bumbling idiots for another power play opportunity (this includes myself). Stop rewarding divers and cry-babies and start rewarding great hockey. The players will appreciate you more, the coaches will appreciate you more, and most importantly the loyal fans can once again love the game that had thrived for so long.
Sincerely,
A hockey fan who’s currently watching the NBA playoffs over the NHL
Now you did mr BETTMAN.I have been a hockey fan for over 50 yrs and never have I witnessed such ridiculous officiating.I am certainly not blaming the officials(they’re just your “yes” men) but am telling you the game is being ruined by the decision makers in your organization.Case in point!!!!! During the SAN JOSE -DETROIT series 2 penalty shots were called.Did you see why they wer called????? GOOd because WE sure didn’t. This BS officiating has been going for a few years.I say let them play!!!!
I can not go on with this anymore.the nhl is not what it was 20 years ago,we had some bad calls but nothing like todays’ nhl.take a good look Mr.Bettman at what you did,now tell me it’s right.if you take the bad calls out of the game the cream will come to the top,is’t that what it’s suppose to be, that the best will win and not the picked one
My email that I just sent:
Mr. Bettman,
I am sitting here listening incredulously at Game 3 as once again, not one single penalty is being called against Philadelphia. The only thing I can say as far as consistency is concerned is that your “officials” have been ignoring Philadelphia’s obvious penalties in Chicago AND in Philadelphia.
To think that an obvious penalty can occur in front of an official and not have it called can only make me think of the WWE. How any of these men can be called “impartial” or “officials” is beyond me. I have been so disgusted by the state of NHL officiating this year that if the Blackhawks were not as successful as they are, I would have once again quit watching and listening to the NHL. This is the first season in over 20 years that I have cared about the league. The officiating made me walk away 20 years ago and even if the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup, I may still give up hockey. This time, however, I will not do so quietly. I WILL state the reason that I quit watching and listening to hockey. This is ludicrous that in the best season I have seen in my life, I am so angry about something that could be fixed, that I am once again considering walking away. Remember, the league almost dissolved not that long ago. In this economy, you cannot afford to have a mass defection of fans, it could spell the end.
I would STRONGLY suggest you either have a closed door meeting with your officials before Game 4 and be ready to pull and replace officials in mid game if they will not start to do their job.
Steve Cain
Batavia, IL.
F.U.C.K. Gary Bettman!!!!!(this message is from Transilvania)