His general message: The owners are the problem, Bettman just represents them. And he is 100% right.

I'm glad that someone other than myself is uncomfortable with betting being so allied with the sport.

"NHL is always reactionary. They're followers." That should be their slogan

Shannon the Hockey Guy 👍 Shannon the History Teacher 👍 👍 👍

Bettman seriously needs to write a book when he retires, i'd love to hear some actual insight on his career and the behind the scenes of what its actually like to be a sports commissioner vs. what people think its actually like. He could have a humorously ironic title, like "With Thunderous Applause: The Gary Bettman Story."

Bettman has been the commissioner longer than ive been alive lol

There’s a reason that even when you see your team win the Stanley cup on home ice it gets boo’d while being handed over. That’s because betman is touching it

Shannon makes a great point in that it is much easier to get 32 people to agree on how to achieve a common goal as opposed to 300. I think we as fans should remember this before we pick sides the next time that there is talk about a lockout. Who are the real greedy ones? Is it the large group of millionaires or the small group of billionaires?

This was a damn good video upload!!!

Now I understand why the league does not promote its players more. If the players have a bigger media presence and a closer relationship with the fans then they have more power to sway public opinion, and more leverage with the league and the owners.

he handed the cup to the Habs his first half year as commissioner and he's never handed a cup to a Canadian team since.

Shannon: " I want to talk about Gary Bettman.." Obi-Wan : "I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in booing..."

Love a good NHL history lesson

Great vid Shannon. That said, you should also mention that Gary engages well with the fanbase. What other commissioner calls to check in with the top hockey KZfaqr at major milestones?

The owners love Gary. Gary loves the owners. That's pretty much it.

I remember when Bettman came in. Back then I had to drive twenty minutes to get USA today which I bought many times every week here in Norway for hockey news and results. Back then I dreamed of something like the internet. Can’t remember when I last bought s newspaper. In the 80s and especially the 90s I bought one every day. What I read back then was that he had done an amazing job in the NBA and the NHL should be very Happy to have him lead the league.

👏👏👏. Great video. Informative…. Well said…. And right on point.

Maybe your best video yet. Incredibly thorough with you arguments rooted in history and concrete facts. Greatly appreciated

Great part, really informative. Thank you!

I knew the "behind the scenes" of the NHL must be really complicated but Shannon's breakdown of the NHL owners and all that is really interesting and eye opening. Fascinating video as always!

Amazing video, super interesting, thanks so much

Great video as always Shannon, I feel like even us fans only care for a certain amount of time and then like everything else something else comes up and we forget about the uncomfortable things not only hockey but all sports leagues do behind the scenes. I think also a reason why the owners always get fans support during a lockout is because as fans the owner 99 percent of the time will keep the team in our city whereas players come and go but the team will always be here. Just my two cents.

In my opinion, NO hockey team should have to pick sides on social issues. Mainly because it’s a no-win situation, as whatever side you choose to endorse, you are pissing off a huge portion of your fan base.

It was smart for the NHL to stay out of social issues, it’s never a good idea to alienate your customers.

Very helpful! Thank you!

This was a really interesting video, 10/10 would recommend

Awesome analysis spot on

Great video Shannon, thank you

@The Hockey Guy excellent educational video. 💙 i've been following the game since 1980 and you have told everything to a T. nhl has the best game imo of the major 4 to watch as a fan yet is the red-headed stepchild when it comes to economics and league leadership in dealing with any matter. cheers from southern ontario 🍁

Thanks! Enjoyed that one.

Great video!!

Very good video. Interesting and informative.

Great backstory thanks for the history lesson!

Great video. This is how many businesses work, for example, do you hate TicketMaster? They play the same role for your favourite musicians as Bettman does for NHL franchises... they are a lightning rod.

Clarence Campbell was the NHL President for 31 long years; from 1946 through to 1977.

Great video... I love the sport. Strategically avoiding the business side.

Coincidence? The Steve Dangle Podcast Network released a podcast about the 1992 10 day strike earlier today with Adam Wylde and Allan Walsh interviewing Glenn Healy.

So I just had an ad on this video for.... your channel.

Where did he get that hat its so cool. looks like it has the original 6 on the sides with the old school NHL and CCM logos

Being a Habs fan growing up in Montreal in the 90s, I was a huge Patrick Roy fan. Then one day, I think I was like...7 or 8, my mom tells me "oh, Patrick Roy's a piece of shit. he beats up his wife. how can he still play? how are you a fan of his?" and I just stared at her blankly not knowing what she was talking about lol.

remember the NBA had a party when he left.... they were glad to see him go

04/05 season was epic in SHL! so many NHLers in our league. :)

I also think the focus on sunbelt teams makes a ton of sense for the league as a whole and hockey fans. As much as I would love to see more Canadian teams, Midwest teams, and northern teams ; I think we have a solid balance now that really makes sense. It gives everyone in the US and Canada a place to go to see hockey. As a Minnesota guy who moved to Virginia, I love that I can easily see a Wild game in Washington, DC, Nashville, and even Florida when I’m down there. I miss Atlanta having a team despite hating the thrasher name, logo, and color scheme. I’m not sure Florida needs two teams but it’s fine. I also appreciate living in the south and having hockey fans around because of the existence of these other southern teams. Virginia has a ton of passionate Capital fans.

That moment when THG has ads on his own channel, and I'm left trying to figure out if I hit next video or something because he looks different and he's unboxing a shirt.

As a new fan, this channel has been a goldmine for learning and understanding the game in an interesting and not condescending way.

Hes done a good job at protecting the owners money but he has done a terrible job at promoting the game of hockey outside it’s current fanbase.

Soo watching this video and the add appears...........and it's THG on it doing an unboxing thing for bench clearers. O_O That threw me off for a minute

Revenue sharing, that sounds like George Steinbrenner , Yankees vs other teams in baseball

My finland jersey Worldcup 2004? Cost 70 euros. Game against Germany. Structure of the logo is so different compared to any other jerseys after that.

I will never forgive bettman for the 04 lockout. Litteraly submarined the flyers best window for a cup, we had to tlose so many good players to be cap compliant, which inevitably forced us into a painful rebuild. All while watch ex flyers win cups on other teams . Thank you bettman!

YOU ARE THE MAN SHANNON!

Thank god someone finally mentioned the gambling. As much as I love Steve Dangle, he gets his money from sportsnet and sports interactions and its the same for the rest of hockey punditry. Its already destroying soccer in Europe. Don't let it happen here.

It will always make me laugh that the strike started on April fools day!!

The NHL started to grow financially after the 2005 lockout and the rise of the Canadian dollar. Prior to that, most franchises were losing money. In 2002, only the Leafs, Rangers, Stars, Avs, and Flyers were making money.

The players need to get together to force the owners to get rid of Bettman. They need to follow the NBA's lead with a commissioner that does good for all parties involved, owners, players and fans.

21:31 lmao i was about to comment a player you might've been talking about

Whenever people complain about Bettman i just link one of your videos on him. We shouldn't blame Bettman, but the owners.

That draft lottery has been a wreck. Yet no substantial changes and just a few percentage tweeks a few years ago. The 2020 lottery rule modification, and the end result was totally preposterous (just so the league was in the headlines during COVID) Now they have added some more sane rules to the situation, but still too many frequent trippers to the top 5.

“I can only speak from my heart, in terms of my commitment, our team’s commitment to getting this right. So that somebody else isn’t coming forward months or years from now because we failed them. That’s what my commitment to you and everybody who’s listening is.” - Mark Chipman That is the sort of thing Bettman ought to be saying, but is not.

I knew this video was coming

might be a somber idea, although it could also be interesting for you to do a *top 10 controversies in the NHLs history* . You might have have a disclaimer/trigger warning at the start of the video, I just think it could a very interesting and informative video idea.

NBA legend Gary Bettman

just a thought. you said the players don't see anything from the 1billion that came in from expansion. but between 2 teams like 100 additional players (NHL and AHL) get to have contracts. they get to be NHLers. that is at least something.

I despise the complete blending of gambling with professional sports we’re seeing. There is going to be another Black Sox scandal before too long.

The THG ad at the start really threw me off lol

Bettman may have been good for the owners....but he hasnt been good for the game of hockey. When Bettman took over the NHL, it was arguably doing better than the NBA- ticket sales especially, the big TV contracts with multiple cable companies bidding was just starting- all the major sports flourished...yet the NHL remains a distant 4th. It wasnt much before Bettmans time that all professional athletes made decent money...but nothing out of the ordinary vs doctors, lawyers or accountants. Even into the early 80's you could make the same (albeit working the whole year with few perks) with a decent union job. The difference in pay between the CFL and NFL in the 70's was minimal, some stars chose the CFL due to the lack of free agency in the NFL. TV and the unionization of pro sports changed it completely.

I think its only a matter of time before the link between gambling and the league leads to a scandal of some sort...all that money can't help but lead to corruption of some sort sometime.

I, no joke, really appreciate Gary Bettman, in the way I appreciate heel managers in territory-era pro wrestling. As a human lightning rod, he wades through the hate exceptionally well!

The only way for fans to make a difference is top stop buying tickets and jerseys when something is amiss and the NHL won't set it right, and hold on until the NHL breaks to the pressure.

Players also don’t share in the appreciation of franchise value which is where the big $ are. That’s all held in ownership I believe

thank you hockey guy!

Gary Bettman should somehow be shown the door, go back to 1993 when he took over , I don't blame Norm Green for moving the North Stars to Dallas I blame Bettman he could have stopped it if he really wanted to that was his first crisis when he took over

You can grow the NHL in New markets but also at same time bringing teams back to good hockey markets first I would continue NHL expansion in the south by putting NHL expansion team in Houston and Kansas city and have a expansion team in the state of Virginia by putting team in Virginia Beach which would grow the game and also put expansion team in Quebec city 36 team NHL 18 teams in the west and 18 teams in the east

When is list month start?

Bettman gets a lot of hate sometimes rightfully, but he has done a good job growing the game and the nhl has made more money under his watch. He also did a good job running the nhl during the global pandemic.

The Hockey Guy rockin the Hockeywood All Star Game unis from 2017! 👌👌👌 And btw Bruce McNall has much to do with Bettman being commish.

Dammit... when you're right- you're right. And you are right, Shannon.

I remember a time where THG Bettman videos were filled with disdain. We have come far since those days

Seems a little weird that this comes out so close to when the SDPN guys talked about this. Just a heads up for the overlap.

"How did this happen?" Indeed

With all this talk of sports betting... I think there's one obvious fact that we're all overlooking. His name's Gary 'Bet'man Bet. Man. We should have seen this coming.

Bettman has done a very good growing the league and the exposure to the game. I agree the league has been largely reactionary to issue that have arisen, but at the same time, the NHL is a good product now. Far more enjoyable to watch than the NBA. HE has his flaws and errors sure, but largely I respect him and the job he has done.

At the end of the day, I only really have 1 complaint about Bettman (though letting the skate in the crease that ended the 99 cup finals is high, it's not it)... Many years ago the NBA was doing a strike/lockout... Bettman could have gone to TNT and other networks that suddenly had a hole in their schedules... and tried to get the NHL on them to fill those holes... and who knows, he may have tried.. but I doubt it.. Only do it to fill the holes and get the NHL some quality exposure... it's not about making money TODAY.. but opening the doors for tomorrow..

Was really hoping Gary would call

Professional Sports - where the employees (players) have more say than the employers (owners). Pick another job where this is the case...

To be real, I have been an avid NHL fan for about 15 years and have never felt super uncomfortable with much when it comes to watching hockey, but the push for online gambling sources is really getting close to that territory for me. I see commercials multiple times per game encouraging people to piss away their hard earned dollars on draft kings, the online 50/50 and multiple other online sources all from the comfort of their own homes, meaning those who are addicted literally have nowhere to go to be safe from that temptation. Not that this is anything new for sports in the internet based age, but I think its extremely dangerous and is a really greasy money making tactic that the NHL is picking up on here.

What are people's thoughts on Arizona rebranding to the Desert Dogs or Arizona Aliens? If they could go to aliens, it'd be cool to see the NHL really lean into the West being a lot fantasy mascots/branding, and the East being the more grounded half of teams. Which could build towards some fun advertising in the playoffs each year.

CFL has gone all-in on gambling money, pretty much all leagues do, and while the money is good, the players hate it with a passion.

It sound like Bill is in the same position Adam Silver was in behind Stern. So only a matter of time till the fans turn.

I would have liked how the NHL/Gary opened up the game..two line passes, obstruction being discussed..

Everyone needs to see this video.

Overall, I think members of the NHL get paid far too much, players and owners (albeit the owners more than the players). Yes they should be paid well but making millions of dollars while most people can barely afford their bills is just cruel. Great video as always, Shannon!

Heard comments about the Oilers moving in the late 90's. Is this true? Never heard of this.

This discussion around Bettman has me thinking about how a month after the World Series ends we're in for an ugly labor dispute around MLB. Some of the same things you said about Bettman can also apply to Manfred as that presumably ugly that's gonna get.

Could see goodell for that long as well or get close.

Maybe your best video yet. NHL view on Hockey fans, complacent, forgetful, sit up, give me paw, play dead, GOOD BOY! and their right. lets examine the one thing the NHL is a leader on, ADDS! We used to make fun of soccer players with all the adds, now look at us. We have more advertising on the field of play than all other sports combined and the players are now billboards. The Hockey Guy can and should make a video on NHL statements concerning the adds. Only on boards.... few years later, just between the blue lines....few years later, just in the corners.......few years later, digital adds on glass....just for the people paying to see the game at home, now.......more digital adds on ice and only a "small" ad on the helm and then......?! Because as we lay down and play dead they keep it up all the time saying they need the revenue and there will be no more. I can't be the only one who finds the game UN-watchable with all the adds of distraction. A great game being ruined by it's own owners.

We as fans need to be better about keeping the owners honest

He's made the owners alot of money so I think Gary will probably go out on his own terms. We are talking about a guy who put himself in the HOF after all

If the NHL contracted 4 weak revenue teams, the salary cap would go up by almost $10 million per team. It would be a kick in the nuts to the fringe players, but the stars would make a killing!!

I don't know one hockey fan that likes Gary Batman