The NHL's real problem is!

[HOF]

The Gary Bettman era

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-concussion_syndrome
Since 1993:
Pat Lafontaine, Scott Stevens, Kevin Stevens, Eric Lindros, Brett Lindros, Nick Kypreos, Adam Deadmarch, Jeff Beukeboom, Matthew Barnaby, Paul Comrie, Keith Primeaum, Michel Goulet, Michael Leighton, Pierre Marc Bouchard, Cal Clutterbuck, Marc Savard, Steve Moore, David Booth, Juri Hudler, Blair Betts, Corey Perry, Nik Hagman, Dan Fritsche, Ryan Hollweg, Pierre Turgeon, Donald Brasher, Markus Naslund, Chris Draper, Scott Neidermeyer, Brad Wilkinson, Steve Heinz, Syd Crosby. There are many more names that can be added.

In 2008, there were 59 concussions; this year 70 and Gary Bettman doesn't see a problem.

Under Bettman's watch, Brittany Cecil killed by stray puck in Columbus. The very next day nets were placed behind every goal in the NHL. 1.2 million split between the parents. Pro-active management would have had nets up before there was a need to be reactive.

During his tenure, not one but two player lock-outs, who lost the fans!

It's inevitable that a player is going to be paralysed or killed during the Bettman regime!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jbB9NCRTkw&feature=related

One would think with a degree in labour & industrial relations and a law degree that Bettman would understand the urgency of dealing with cheapshots and headshots. However, as long as Bettman is receiving his 5.5 million base with performance dividends of 1.7 million, the Napoleon Bonaparte look-a-like will allow such shots and injuries to continue. Bettman doesn't care because for every Max P. there are 50 players looking to replace him.

Napoleon had his Waterloo! If the NHLPA wants this to stop, they need to do a work stoppage or a wildcat strike for the betterment of all NHLPA (UNION) members but that's doubtful as the players only have a union for financial reasons. Then, we may see the NHL and Owners do something positive.

http://www.netglimse.com/videos/2575265/Bettman_Boo_Montage
Have you ever noticed when Bettman is confronted he:
1. Stutters slightly
2. Blinks rapidly
3. Avoids and/or closes his eyes

The NHL needs to learn from the NFL about cheapshots/headshots, big fines and suspensions immediately with the message we don't want that in our sport.

 

[alwayslooking]

The NHL's real problem is that it is a niche sport in the US and will never be more than that despite how hard Gary Bettman tries. It's just not part of the culture down there so it will always get the most attention from American media when something negative occurs.

But yeah all the stuff you mentioned are problems as well.

 

[5hummer]

Yup, Bettman is a turd.

The Leafs probably would've got a Stanley Cup by now.
But, Bettman had to lock out players and implement a salary cap to pander to low-interest small US franchises.

 

[Don Draper]

[SIZE=+4]That it exists![/SIZE]​

 

[HOF]

The NHL's real problem is that it is a niche sport in the US and will never be more than that despite how hard Gary Bettman tries. It's just not part of the culture down there so it will always get the most attention from American media when something negative occurs.

But yeah all the stuff you mentioned are problems as well.

Pavel Kubina gets 3 games and 60K fine for an elbow to the head and Chara walks away! Blind leading the Blind!

Other brain farts of the Bettman regime:
11 teams 1/3 of the league of is up for sale.
The Phoenix ownership mess.
The point system.
Shootout. Hate it

 

[Brill]

lol

If a hockey player suffers a concussion, how can you tell?

 

[Rockslinger]

In 2008, there were 59 concussions; this year 70 and Gary Bettman doesn't see a problem.

What is the damage in international hockey under international rules? I actually prefer watching hockey under international rules where skill and fitness rise to the surface and not brutality.

 

[HOF]

lol

If a hockey player suffers a concussion, how can you tell?

Educate yourself!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-concussion_syndrome

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/concussion/article_em.htm

 

[HOF]

Interesting article on how a former NHL enforcer came close to punching out his child

http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/288194

I wonder how the enforcers from the 70's and 80's are doing these days. Guys like:
Dave Semenko, Stan Jonathon, Clark Gillies, Dave Schultz, Tiger Williams, etc.

Too many headshots from fighting causes CTE which Bob Probert had.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/03/03/cte-bob-proberts-brain-tissue/#

 

[Rockslinger]

I wonder how the enforcers from the 70's and 80's are doing these days. Guys like:
Dave Semenko, Stan Jonathon, Clark Gillies, Dave Schultz, Tiger Williams, etc.

Then there is the tragic story of John "Rambo" Kordic who died at age 27.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kordic

Another dark side of hockey are the number of kids who drop out of school to pursue a hockey career only to wind up at age 20 with no hockey career and no education.

These are the sacrifices that boys and men make for our "entertainment" and to enrich NHL owners and Gary Bettman. Shame! Shame!

 

[alwayslooking]

Not to piggyback on what HOF said but No matter how a rule is changed in hockey there is some physical ramification to it. Not surprising considering how physical the sport is but just look at the goalie trapezoid. Now less pucks are played by the goalies so there's more hitting and dangerous boarding behind the net. Same thing with the mandatory helmet rule. None of the old time hockey players seem to be suffering from these post concussion ailments or at least the ones we hear from. It's always said how there was more physical respect amongst the players in the old days.

 

[Rockslinger]

Not to piggyback on what HOF said but No matter how a rule is changed in hockey there is some physical ramification to it.

There is something wrong with a sport where there are 70 concussions in a year. Can't just say it is "part of the game". The game is fucked up and needs to be fixed. What is the damage in international hockey under international rules? Do they suffer 70 concussions a year?

 

[hvacman]

The hockey culture teaches kids to have no respect for their opponents. Thats where the game goes wrong, from the grass roots to the top levels. To fix that is going to be a long drawn out process.

 

[fun-guy]

Bettman is a arrogant, pompous, belligerent prick. Hate his attitude.

 

[danmand]

The violence may get some couch potatos to watch, but it keeps most kids away from playing and most people away from the arenas.

 

[JustSex]

The violence may get some couch potatos to watch, but it keeps most kids away from playing and most people away from the arenas.

That is the biggest drawback for success in the U.S. The back and forth action of a hotly contested hockey game is great action but the fights are totally unnecessary and slow the game down. I played the game as a kid and love it so please, no lectures or dribble that it necessary to the game. Football is by far a sport with more contact than hockey but fights are extremely rare.

 

[train]

[SIZE=+4]That it exists![/SIZE]​

PS It wasn't all that clever of a comment so there was no need to yell. In fact it was a dumb statement - if you don't care why are you even in the thread?

 

[Brill]

That is the biggest drawback for success in the U.S. The back and forth action of a hotly contested hockey game is great action but the fights are totally unnecessary and slow the game down. I played the game as a kid and love it so please, no lectures or dribble that it necessary to the game. Football is by far a sport with more contact than hockey but fights are extremely rare.

The concussions aren't a result of fighting, it's the hard contact nature of the game, just like in football.
To get rid of concussions, you have to make it less of a contact sport which most fans would reject. Bettman would be a fool to make it a sport with less hitting and there are plenty of replacement players for those who fall by the wayside.

 

[shack]

The concussions aren't a result of fighting, it's the hard contact nature of the game, just like in football.
To get rid of concussions, you have to make it less of a contact sport

Agreed. We wouldn't get to see guys heads pummelled. Who the hell wants to watch a sport like that?

As you said, just like football, which instituted stricter rules and very harsh fines for hits to the head. Absolutely no reason the NHL can't do it. They just don't want to.

 

[Brill]

Agreed. We wouldn't get to see guys heads pummelled. Who the hell wants to watch a sport like that?

As you said, just like football, which instituted stricter rules and very harsh fines for hits to the head. Absolutely no reason the NHL can't do it. They just don't want to.

Do penalties reduce hits? Fans like players with high penalty minutes who are also paid millions to do their job of taking out players. The NHL doesn't want to change the game, neither do most of the fans. Those who disliked the hard hitting stopped watching and participating in the game long ago.

Morons like Don Cherry are seen as heroic, and taxpayers pay him gladly.