Gary Bettman

Gary Bettman admits completing regular season ‘may not be possible’

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spoke with NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico on Tuesday to discuss how the league was handling the coronavirus pandemic and what may come next for the suspended 2019-20 season. Bettman said the NHL is “looking at all options. Nothing’s been ruled in. Nothing’s been ruled out.” He hoped the league will know more about how to proceed “by the end of April.”

During the video conference call, Bettman admitted for the first time that completing the regular season “may not be possible.”

He continued, “But I do believe we can play into the summer — well into the summer. And even on NBC platforms, since the Olympics have been postponed, gives us a broader window to focus on when and how we can play.”

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By Ian Oland 2 months ago

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Gary Bettman tried to stop Canucks fans’ booing by bringing out the Sedins. Walking off stage did the trick.

Every year, the same thing happens no matter what venue the NHL Draft is held at.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman walks out on stage to give a speech and officially begin the event. Fans boo him loudly.

But this year, Bettman came prepared with a plan to try and get the Vancouver Canucks crowd on his side. It worked… but not for the reason he planned.

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By Ian Oland 11 months ago

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Whatever the next stage is for women’s professional hockey, I’ll be watching

During the Winter Olympics in 2018, I stayed up way past my bed time to watch the US Women’s National Hockey Team beat Canada in a shootout for their first gold medal since 1998. That game garnered 3.0 million views on NBC Sports Network and 3.7 million across all platforms. The NBCSN-only audience exceeds all but five of the network’s total NHL telecasts according to Sports Media Watch.

There is always an appetite for more hockey, and particularly women’s hockey. This year’s Clarkson Cup had 175,000 viewers, and the NWHL’s All-Star Game and Skills Competition had a combined 945,000 viewers. But early on Sunday morning, the CWHL announced they were folding after 12 seasons.

The news came as a shock to players and reporters alike, leaving the NWHL as the only paying professional women’s league in America, and forcing the hockey community to ask itself what the future of women’s hockey looks like.

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By Julia Karron 1 year ago

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Congress members propose legislation to award Willie O’Ree with Congressional Gold Medal

The day after Willie O’Ree dropped the puck alongside US Representative John Lewis at the Capitals Black History in Hockey Night, O’Ree was honored with a reception at the Canadian embassy in Washington DC.

Co-hosted by Canadian Ambassador to the US David MacNaughton and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, the reception celebrated the accomplishments of O’Ree, who was the first Black hockey player to compete in the NHL. O’Ree was recently inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

The event also announced pending legislation to award O’Ree with the Congressional Gold Medal.

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By Elizabeth Kong 1 year ago

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Gary Bettman announces player tracking coming next year during All-Star Weekend press conference

Gary Bettman spoke ahead the start of festivities at All-Star Weekend in San Jose. During this press conference with reporters, Bettman hit a variety of topics including the outdoor games for 2019-20, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and the negotiations with the NHLPA on a new collective bargaining agreement.

But the jewel of his press conference was his lengthy discussions on player and puck tracking technology developed by SAP that will show a variety of advanced statistics on the players in real time.

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By Julia Karron 1 year ago

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Internal conversations between commissioner’s office and DoPS encouraged sending Tom Wilson a message with suspension

Tuesday morning, independent arbitrator Shyam Das ruled that Tom Wilson‘s 20 game suspension for his hit on Oscar Sundqvist in the preseason would be reduced to 14 games.

One footnote in Das’ decision presents back-and-forth conversations between Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, Commissioner Gary Bettman, and the Department of Player Safety before Wilson’s suspension was announced.

The NHLPA tried to argue that the commissioner’s office inappropriately influenced DoPS’s decision.

The footnote was first pointed out by the Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan.

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By Julia Karron 2 years ago

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Gary Bettman hopes 20-game suspension is ‘wake up call’ for Tom Wilson

Thursday afternoon, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman released a 31-page statement upholding the 20-game suspension of Tom Wilson for his preseason hit on Oskar Sundqvist.

In the document, Bettman repeatedly mentions that he hopes Wilson uses this suspension as a “wake up call.” The commissioner also provides reasoning, that despite all of the interventions the NHL has provided, Wilson still does not understand the magnitude of his actions.

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By Julia Karron 2 years ago

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Gary Bettman upholds Tom Wilson’s 20-game suspension

Capitals forward Tom Wilson met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in New York last week to appeal his 20-game suspension. The hearing, according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon, lasted a marathon seven hours. After taking nearly a week to review the transcripts, Bettman has finally made a decision.

Wilson’s request to have his 20-game suspension reduced has been denied. Bettman’s decision comes in a 31-page long PDF.

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By Cara Bahniuk 2 years ago

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Tom Wilson’s appeal ends after seven hours, Gary Bettman’s decision expected next week

Tom Wilson’s really, really long hearing is finally over.

Thursday, the Capitals forward met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in New York to appeal his 20-game suspension for a head hit on Oskar Sundqvist during the Capitals’ final preseason game.

Details about the appeal are scant, but Wilson’s hearing, according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon, lasted seven hours. Bettman will review the transcripts and issue his ruling sometime next week.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Tom Wilson’s appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman will take place on Thursday

Tom Wilson was suspended during the preseason by the Department of Player Safety for for an illegal hit to the head of Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist. The length of the suspension was 20 regular-season games.

Wilson will appeal the suspension on Thursday in a hearing with the NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

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By Brennin Weiswerda 2 years ago

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