Shell
05-28-2003, 03:30 PM
Bettman ready to discuss bigger nets
May. 28, 2003. 08:45 AM
NHL boss says talks probable
Wants to see more room for stars also
Damien Cox
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Gary Bettman believes the time has come to seriously discuss making NHL nets bigger to create more scoring.
The NHL commissioner made the rather surprising admission yesterday in his annual Stanley Cup final address after another year in which the league featured a very low scoring brand of hockey.
"I said to (vice-president) Colin (Campbell), and we should probably talk about it over the summer, let the goaltenders wear whatever they want, just make the nets bigger and that will take care of any issues that anybody has about whether or not the equipment is too big or too small," he said.
"That is one way to approach it and it will probably get discussed."
As soon as Bettman made those comments, however, he quickly seemed to grasp the impact and started to back away.
"Discussed. Not necessarily implemented," he said. "Not necessarily pursued at 100 miles per hour."
League officials have become increasingly doubtful that anything major can be done to reduce the size of goaltending equipment, and some senior NHL officials who were once adamantly opposed to making the nets larger are now willing to listen.
Bettman also said the league plans to investigate ways to create more room for players in the offensive zone.
"The thing we hear most often is that our skill players want more room," said the commissioner.
Bettman, however, accused those who argue the game is in need of fundamental change of having "an axe to grind" and trotted out a variety of obscure statistics like the number of hat tricks and total points scored by NHL defencemen as proof the league does not have a scoring problem.
"I think the game can be improved," he said. "Is the game in a state of disrepair? I reject that notion."
Other topics touch upon by Bettman included:
http://www.waymoresports.com/images/sb_star10.gifLast fall's crackdown on obstruction and interference.
Bettman said the new standard has worked well and "categorically disagreed" with those who argue the league has "abandoned" the crackdown.
http://www.waymoresports.com/images/sb_star10.gifThe state of labour talks between the league and the players union.
Bettman said there are no talks ongoing and that he's waiting for the union to come to the table. "I can't dance this dance alone," he said.
After praising the newly improved financial state of teams in Buffalo and Ottawa, Bettman reaffirmed that the league needs major economic changes.
"We all know the problems," he said. "I certainly know how to address them."
http://www.waymoresports.com/images/sb_star10.gifDropping TV numbers.
Bettman suggested that the absence of the Maple Leafs after the first round has hurt ratings in Canada, noting that compared to the '98 playoffs, a year in which the Leafs missed the playoffs, ratings were actually up.
South of the border, he dismissed concerns over low ratings on ESPN and ABC and said he doesn't believe the next U.S. network contract is in trouble.
"I am confident at some point the passion for our sport will translate into a higher national TV profile in the U.S.," he said. "I am not the least bit concerned about our next U.S TV contract."
http://www.waymoresports.com/images/sb_star10.gifProposals to take out the red line for two-line passes or introduce a new system in which teams would be awarded three points for a regulation win in order to increase scoring.
Bettman indicated the league isn't seriously pursuing either option.
May. 28, 2003. 08:45 AM
NHL boss says talks probable
Wants to see more room for stars also
Damien Cox
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Gary Bettman believes the time has come to seriously discuss making NHL nets bigger to create more scoring.
The NHL commissioner made the rather surprising admission yesterday in his annual Stanley Cup final address after another year in which the league featured a very low scoring brand of hockey.
"I said to (vice-president) Colin (Campbell), and we should probably talk about it over the summer, let the goaltenders wear whatever they want, just make the nets bigger and that will take care of any issues that anybody has about whether or not the equipment is too big or too small," he said.
"That is one way to approach it and it will probably get discussed."
As soon as Bettman made those comments, however, he quickly seemed to grasp the impact and started to back away.
"Discussed. Not necessarily implemented," he said. "Not necessarily pursued at 100 miles per hour."
League officials have become increasingly doubtful that anything major can be done to reduce the size of goaltending equipment, and some senior NHL officials who were once adamantly opposed to making the nets larger are now willing to listen.
Bettman also said the league plans to investigate ways to create more room for players in the offensive zone.
"The thing we hear most often is that our skill players want more room," said the commissioner.
Bettman, however, accused those who argue the game is in need of fundamental change of having "an axe to grind" and trotted out a variety of obscure statistics like the number of hat tricks and total points scored by NHL defencemen as proof the league does not have a scoring problem.
"I think the game can be improved," he said. "Is the game in a state of disrepair? I reject that notion."
Other topics touch upon by Bettman included:
http://www.waymoresports.com/images/sb_star10.gifLast fall's crackdown on obstruction and interference.
Bettman said the new standard has worked well and "categorically disagreed" with those who argue the league has "abandoned" the crackdown.
http://www.waymoresports.com/images/sb_star10.gifThe state of labour talks between the league and the players union.
Bettman said there are no talks ongoing and that he's waiting for the union to come to the table. "I can't dance this dance alone," he said.
After praising the newly improved financial state of teams in Buffalo and Ottawa, Bettman reaffirmed that the league needs major economic changes.
"We all know the problems," he said. "I certainly know how to address them."
http://www.waymoresports.com/images/sb_star10.gifDropping TV numbers.
Bettman suggested that the absence of the Maple Leafs after the first round has hurt ratings in Canada, noting that compared to the '98 playoffs, a year in which the Leafs missed the playoffs, ratings were actually up.
South of the border, he dismissed concerns over low ratings on ESPN and ABC and said he doesn't believe the next U.S. network contract is in trouble.
"I am confident at some point the passion for our sport will translate into a higher national TV profile in the U.S.," he said. "I am not the least bit concerned about our next U.S TV contract."
http://www.waymoresports.com/images/sb_star10.gifProposals to take out the red line for two-line passes or introduce a new system in which teams would be awarded three points for a regulation win in order to increase scoring.
Bettman indicated the league isn't seriously pursuing either option.