I've Figured It Out

Gary Bettman wants to kill the NHL, and along with it, any sort of top level professional hockey league. Here's why...

What was Gary Bettman doing before he became commissioner of the NHL? Why, he was a top executive with the NBA. Hockey was seeing a rise in popularity in the late 80's and early 90's, right before Bettman became commissioner on February 1, 1993. Now, before we go any further, let look at the big sports picture in North America... There were traditionally four major sports leagues: MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL. All together, there is sports all year round. Baseball has spring until fall, Football has the end of summer until January... both of them having a distinct time of year where it is their "season". However, during the period of October until June, both Hockey and Basketball run almost simultaneously. ie. they are direct competition for our entertainment dollar. Whether or not the NBA was worried by the NHL, I don't know. But what I think happened is this... Gary Bettman is a mole for the NBA. He came in, gave the players a sweet deal, which ruined the game financially and tweaked the game so it became less attractive competatively. Knowing the players would get addicted to their high pay, he goes into this negatiating period with a hard line, which he knows the players will never accept. All with the goal, since 1993, to kill the NHL. They may come back with replacement players, but he knows that most fans won't accept that, and will kill the league just as fast.

I expect that there won't be an agreement anytime in the near future, not until Bettman is sure hockey is dead. Look at the negotiations now, or lack there of. The players conceded on a salary cap, but the league refused to budge at all. They aren't negotiating.

The plan is coming to fruition. It's endgame.