it’s true that it’s not entirely his fault, but he has had chance after chance to move that team someplace that would make some money. hasn’t phoenix been in the red every year it’s been there?

Posted by Twig in Houston from Houston, TX on 05/12/10 at 10:46 AM ET

This is just fantastic stuff, and being from Buffalo I can tell you he’s spot on when he says the Sabres would’ve left if not for Bettman.

Posted by @DaveDavisHockey from Buffalo, NY on 05/12/10 at 11:14 AM ET

Bettman is serving at the pleasure of the team owners. They allow him to catch the flack for their interests. He’s a butt-boy shill we all love to hate, but he’s a puppet. I wish the owners votes were public, but they aren’t.

Posted by redxblack from Akron Ohio on 05/12/10 at 11:41 AM ET

In Winnipeg, minor issues like this are referred to the Board of Adjustment or community committees.

About 250 Coyotes fans attended Glendale city council last night. There were several empty seats in the 285-seat gallery. (winnipeg Free Press)

I guess the NHL is ok with free parking, $10 tickets and all you can eat. Sounds like a real money maker, and I’m sure if a canadian franchise was in trouble good ole Gary would do the same (see Nordiques and Jets who were in much better shape). Nice to see all 250 fans showed up last night, how embarassing.

Posted by Killerdg93 on 05/12/10 at 12:08 PM ET

Finally, a lucid article on the subject. Probably insufficient to repel all the idiots with harebrained schemes and a wide assortment of conspiracy theories, but one can always hope.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 05/12/10 at 12:12 PM ET

This is just fantastic stuff, and being from Buffalo I can tell you he’s spot on when he says the Sabres would’ve left if not for Bettman.

I live in Niagare Falls and Bettman is not the reason the Sabres stayed, B.Thomas Golisano is the reason the sabres stayed. Just like Eugene Melnyk is the reason the Sens stayed. how long can you keep a franchise in a city with no owner and pay 25-50 mill a season in operating losses. The jets will return to Winnipeg barring a major collapse of the canadian dollar.

Posted by Killerdg93 on 05/12/10 at 12:13 PM ET

“Bettman is not the reason the Sabres stayed, B.Thomas Golisano is the reason the sabres stayed.”

Chicken and egg, my friend.  Golisano had no interest in getting into the hockey business until Bettman and Larry Quinn practically begged him to get involved.  At a time when the commissioner had the perfect excuse to get the Sabres out of small market Buffalo he stood behind them.

Although Phoenix isn’t the hockey market that Buffalo is, he shouldn’t be criticized for trying to keep the team there with competent ownership.

Posted by @DaveDavisHockey from Buffalo, NY on 05/12/10 at 12:30 PM ET

The birth of the San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Anaheim Mighty Ducks (the Ottawa Senators were also reborn during that time) along with the relocation of the Minnesota North Stars to Dallas occurred before Bettman became commissioner in February 1993 or were on the verge of finalization when he took office.

The Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers and Minnesota Wild came into being on Bettman’s watch, but it must be remembered this was a continuation of the aggressive expansion plans already well in place.

THANK YOU LYLE.

Someone else other than me apparently gets it, finally.

Criticize Bettman for a whole list of other things, but the NHL expansion is not one of the things you can.  Because it was in place before he stepped into the picture.  And of the 4 teams under his watch, is anyone really going to argue with the Minnesota Wild?  Didn’t think so.

Posted by Primis on 05/12/10 at 12:37 PM ET

The Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers , which one of those 3 will be in Winnipeg and when?

Posted by Killerdg93 on 05/12/10 at 12:54 PM ET

Columbus has proven to be a really good hockey base living alongside the rabid Buckeye fans.  I hope they stay in Columbus in perpetuity.  Fuch a goal horn, get a Civil War replica cannon.

The Calgary Flames were the former Atlanta Flames.  I doubt the Thrashers are going anywhere.

Despite all the sordid machinations with Boots Del Biaggio in Nashville, I think they’re staying for good as well with a bottom-line conscious group of investors (what businessman is NOT bottom-line conscious?).

Only the Yotes appear to be likely candidates for relocation but Gary.Ass seems intent on shoving the Yotes down the throats of the denizens of Glendale who don’t know squat about maintaining the costs of a professional hockey team.

Posted by SYF from the bottom of my, what, 11teenth pint of Guinness? on 05/12/10 at 03:27 PM ET

What league in there right mind would put a franchise in a small city in the middle of nowhere.  Albany NY may be bigger than Winnipeg would anyone suggest the NHL put a franchise there?  It’s about TV exposure.  How many people live in Manitoba 1 -2 million?  It’s just not feasable, it’s not anti anything.  Also I don’t like everything he does, but the vitriol against Bettman in the Canadian Media borders on psychosis.

Posted by 13 user names on 05/13/10 at 12:07 AM ET

The NHL will put a second franchise in the Greater Toronto are when the time is right.

Posted by 13 user names on 05/13/10 at 12:08 AM ET