Bettman's Nightmare: a Canadian Division

[clutesi]

We hear it all the time, Canada wins the olympics and watches American teams take the cup. Tired of sponsoring the Panthers and Coyotes with overpriced tickets so the NHL can funnel revenue to cities who couldn't care less about hockey? Can't believe playoff tickets go for cheap on game day in a lot of American cities? Our best rivalries are with the Canadian teams. I understand we want the American markets and the NHL wants to develop them. But wouldn't we all love a scenario where we mostly play the other Canadian cities and at the end of the season we'd see at least a couple Cdn teams playing for Lord Stanley?

[5Fivehole0]

We hear it all the time, Canada wins the olympics and watches American teams take the cup. Tired of sponsoring the Panthers and Coyotes with overpriced tickets so the NHL can funnel revenue to cities who couldn't care less about hockey?

Yea, I never thought of it like that... but it's true...

[Captain Aerosex]

How would a Canadian division be Bettman's nightmare? It assures that some Canadian teams will miss the playoffs, whereas with the current setup it's theoretically possible that all Canadian teams could make the playoffs.

[J529]

He hates Canada.

[CrazyAL]

The cool thing about this idea is Canucks would always make the playoffs.

[DeNiro]

Canadian teams have solid ownership and passionate fans, yet since Bettman took over full time not a single Canadian team has won the cup despite having roughly a 20% chance. More when you consider the franchises that perpetually fail (Florida, NYI, Phoenix, Nashville).

It doesn't add up.

This year may see Montreal being the only Canadian team represented too.

[DeNiro]

And the scary thing is that Bettman is 61.

Bud Selig (commissioner of MLB) is almost 80.

Imagine 20 more years of Bettman at the helm...

[HunterHorvatBure]

Omg

[BlueLemming]

And the scary thing is that Bettman is 61.

Bud Selig (commissioner of MLB) is almost 80.

Imagine 20 more years of Bettman at the helm...

[Nuck-Shot]

Bettman is a lawyer, and more corrupt then any politician

[-DLC-]

And the scary thing is that Bettman is 61.

Bud Selig (commissioner of MLB) is almost 80.

Imagine 20 more years of Bettman at the helm...

Yeah, time to kick out the geriatrics and get some fresh blood involved.

With salary caps and revenue sharing, that alone should be enough to help bail out teams that struggle. But factor in that the league also assists them with decisions and calls that seem to always fall in their favour and it starts to be a very unlevel playing field. That sort of goes against the whole idea behind salary caps. Some teams get away with murder and are provided an environment that helps them thrive. BS.

If you don't have fans showing up, then you don't get a team. You don't give hand outs out and help and try and give them every break out there to make it work. What about the guys doing it honestly? The fans showing up for years in a row and lining up for tickets in advance. Paying to be on waiting lists? Does that not get some sort of support?

I wish they'd scrap these bogus teams who get so many handouts...move on. Why should successful markets that have fans who show up with consistency have to look after teams where hockey isn't even a blip on the radar? So the US can take over control because that works for Bettman and his cronies? Our teams have earned the support they get...I don't believe it should be shared with "competitors". A level playing field???? No. Work your way into being a competitive team, no one should have to share their success with you when you may go on to beat them for the cup in the end. The way the whole thing is run...maybe it makes for a more "profitable" sport but it's coming to a what's in it for us deal? Where is the reward for being a team that has a faithful following that always draws in the ticket sales and can stay afloat. So you punish them because they have to share and can't spend beyond a certain amount because it isn't fair. And if you are successful but don't win the cup...well, you pick last because these other losers who keep losing don't want to keep losing and we're trying to help them. Why?

We have one of the worst schedules...does anyone help teams that face those issues? Ha - no, they pile it on.

Honestly....the league caters to some teams and it is all BUT a level playing field as a result. Time to let all teams sink or swim on their own. If it means there are less teams/revenue, whatever. This is becoming more and more a manipulation than a fair league where all teams stand the same chance. Some are coddled along the way. In a pro, competitive league. What?

/whiny rant

[Kakanucks]

they should do something similar to state government, term limits...

the fact that bettman can be commissioner for as long as he or the board wants is just wrong

if the commissioner was like presidency, we'd probably see some new ideas and directions from under different commissioners

[J529]

Yeah, time to kick out the geriatrics and get some fresh blood involved.

With salary caps and revenue sharing, that alone should be enough to help bail out teams that struggle. But factor in that the league also assists them with decisions and calls that seem to always fall in their favour and it starts to be a very unlevel playing field. That sort of goes against the whole idea behind salary caps. Some teams get awa with murder and are provided an environment that helps them thrive. BS.

If you don't have fans showing up, then you don't get a team. You don't bail out and help and try and give them every break out there to make it work. What about the guys doing it honestly? The fans showing up for years in a row and lining up for tickets in advance. Paying to be on waiting lists? Does that not get some sort of support?

I wish they'd scrap these bogus teams who get so many handouts...move on. Why should successful markets that have fans who show up with consistency have to look after teams where hockey isn't even a blip on the radar? So the US can take over control because that works for Bettman and his cronies? Our teams have earned the support they get...I don't believe it should be shared with "competitors". A level playing field???? No. Work your way into being a competitive team, no one should have to share their success with you when you may go on to beat them for the cup in the end.

Honestly....the league caters to some teams and it is all BUT a level playing field as a result. Time to let all teams sink or swim on their own. If it means there are less teams/revenue, whatever. This is becoming more and more a manipulation than fair league where all teams stand a chance.

/rant

NHL panders and caters most to Boston. All their players are allowed to get away with. It helps too when Colin Campbell's little boy plays for them. Look at when Rome got suspended in Finals (which was joke) and the great acting job Horton did.

The Count refuses to put more teams in Canada, but continues to keep teams like Coyotes in Phoenix and how long that's been going on.

Gretzky for Commissioner.

[jovocop55]

lack of canadian teams in playoff = less revenue.. instead of getting average ticket of $150.. they will be getting like $40 in the US

[SNACanuck]

All he cares about is growth in the US. Markets can tank over here like Phoenix yet they keep getting propped up by the league. Sadly, most American fans don't have a negative opinion of Brettman as long as he gives them hockey in failing cities. Whereas Canadian fans realize what a douche he is.

[Absent Canuck]

To play devils advocate.............the NHL has become a far better product on ice and off ice since 1993. The league is healthier, has more teams, is more competitive , and the players get way more money.

[J529]

To play devils advocate.............the NHL has become a far better product on ice and off ice since 1993. The league is healthier, has more teams, is more competitive , and the players get way more money.

And the owners are making alot more money and spending alot more on signing player's.

So what was the point of year long lockout?

[Kass]

NHL panders and caters most to Boston. All their players are allowed to get away with. It helps too when Colin Campbell's little boy plays for them. Look at when Rome got suspended in Finals (which was joke) and the great acting job Horton did.

The Count refuses to put more teams in Canada, but continues to keep teams like Coyotes in Phoenix and how long that's been going on.

Gretzky for Commissioner.

You really think Horton who had 17 point in 21 playoff games faked getting hurt and sitting out so Aaron Rome would get suspended?

[MJDDawg]

Canadian teams have solid ownership and passionate fans, yet since Bettman took over full time not a single Canadian team has won the cup despite having roughly a 20% chance. More when you consider the franchises that perpetually fail (Florida, NYI, Phoenix, Nashville).

It doesn't add up.

This year may see Montreal being the only Canadian team represented too.

Don't think it has anything to do with Bettman or any other conspiracy against Canada that people can dream up.

The reason a Canadian team hasn't won the Cup is because there is just too much pressure in Canadian markets to stay competitive and win. As a result, most Canadian teams are managed to win or stay competitive in the short term. Teams become not good or elite enough to win the Cup, but not stinky enough to draft franchise players in the top two or three in the draft for a couple of years. I'll exclude the Oilers from this conversation as their ineptness has been due mainly to poor management.

All that pressure to win and stay competitive results in decisions that aren't always best in the longer term. Most American teams have no such pressure, which affords management of these teams the time needed to both tank for a couple of years and then bring along the franchise players drafted as a result of the two or three poor seasons.

[DeNiro]

Don't think it has anything to do with Bettman or any other conspiracy against Canada that people can dream up.

The reason a Canadian team hasn't won the Cup is because there is just too much pressure in Canadian markets to stay competitive and win. As a result, most Canadian teams are managed to win or stay competitive in the short term. Teams become not good or elite enough to win the Cup, but not stinky enough to draft franchise players in the top two or three in the draft for a couple of years. I'll exclude the Oilers from this conversation as their ineptness has been due mainly to poor management.

All that pressure to win and stay competitive results in decisions that aren't always best in the longer term. Most American teams have no such pressure, which affords management of these teams the time needed to both tank for a couple of years and then bring along the franchise players drafted as a result of the two or three poor seasons.

You don't think there's pressure in American markets? I don't buy that.

Pressure is what makes teams good. Look at some of the great teams in any sport, and they have a ton of pressure on them. Great teams rise above the pressure.

Edmonton, Ottawa, and Montreal all have young top 3 picks on their roster. Ottawa's drafting over the last decade has been great. I don't think drafting has been an issue for most the Canadian teams. There's American teams that continually get top 5 picks and never become a contender.