I have mixed feelings on Bettman. On the one hand he’s pushed hard for geographic expansion—I assume that’s why he’s being recognized as a builder—but on the other hand he’s failed massively wrt a lot of other things from health concerns to the so-called “hockey is for everyone”.
Crediting him for bringing the NHL to places that don’t get pond ice needs to come with the caveat that he has only really cared about bringing it to straight white men in those places, and the further caveat that he is STILL putting his league’s players at risk w/ CTE denialism.
He’s been openly dismissive of concerns raised by female hockey fans, queer hockey fans, hockey fans of color; hasn’t done much if anything to address the racism experienced by players of color; is risking all his players’ health and lives trying not to lose a lawsuit; etc. etc.
Right, absolutely also this (and the fact that he even suspended Voynov in the first place is a huge anomaly—so many players & team staff members accused of similar things never got even a temporary mandated suspension):
So yeah, he brought the NHL to new physical places—and that is genuinely good—but so much of what he’s done hasn’t been building at all. It’s been the opposite; it’s been keeping hockey for the same exclusive group. It’s 20freaking18 out here. There should be higher standards.
(Also I’m not sure if he’s ever successfully avoided a lockout, so, y’know, great job keeping things running, too. </sarcasm>)
