Comments on: Bettman: Hall of Shame or Hall of Fame? http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/2012/12/bettman-hall-of-shame-or-hall-of-fame/ Fact or opinion? Exactly. Mon, 20 May 2013 04:59:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: USHA#17 http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/2012/12/bettman-hall-of-shame-or-hall-of-fame/#comment-3792 USHA#17 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:05:00 +0000 http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/?p=13708#comment-3792 Only problem as I see it is the watering down of talent. Perhaps my memories wax nostalgic but I seem to remember a time when the talent level of most teams was generally deeper overall.

In the short term accepting European players filled that gap while eroding a bit of the rough and tumble edge hockey was famous for. Further expansion simply outpaced the global talent pool to a point were piss poor 2nd and 3rd lines on many teams has become common.

]]> By: SCSF http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/2012/12/bettman-hall-of-shame-or-hall-of-fame/#comment-3791 SCSF Wed, 19 Dec 2012 04:47:00 +0000 http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/?p=13708#comment-3791 Well done, sir. I tend to take a measured approach to things, but I’ve really grown weary of the Bettman show. For the most part, the NHL has grown in spite of him, not on account of his vision of southern hockey. The interrupted and / or lost seasons really makes the league appear second-rate at best, and the posturing during negotiations really turns my stomach. With proper leadership, this season did not need to be lost. Jacobs and the other puppet masters used Gary brilliantly, unfortunately.

]]> By: Model62 http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/2012/12/bettman-hall-of-shame-or-hall-of-fame/#comment-3790 Model62 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 02:06:00 +0000 http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/?p=13708#comment-3790 That was a pretty good fisking.

I’m not a big fan of Gary Bettman, but in straight up business CEO terms, it’s hard to argue with his accomplishments. Revenue IS way up. Franchise values ARE way up. The lockouts have hurt, but the terms he’s gotten from the PA because of them (and those he’s likely to get out of this lockout) have been clear wins for ownership.

The Sunbelt experiment has not been a clear success. Neither has it been a clear disaster. What is clear, is that for the league to grow as a business, for franchise values to continue to grow (and grow faster), something like the Sunbelt strategy has to work. Canada and the traditional markets are too small and don’t have much upside — there’s only so much money to be squeezed from the gate and local TV. New markets must be opened up and exploited outside of the traditional regions. It’s the only avenue available for strong long term growth.

]]> By: Quisp http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/2012/12/bettman-hall-of-shame-or-hall-of-fame/#comment-3789 Quisp Fri, 14 Dec 2012 04:39:00 +0000 http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/?p=13708#comment-3789 Oh my god yes. CARBON FREEZE FOR BETTMAN. IN FEHR’S LIVING ROOM.

]]> By: USHA#17 http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/2012/12/bettman-hall-of-shame-or-hall-of-fame/#comment-3788 USHA#17 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 01:58:00 +0000 http://www.mcsorleys-stick.com/?p=13708#comment-3788 Encased in concrete when a new wing is added.

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