82 replies to this topic

[devlman]

ACtually no, the team was fined because it left (was it Ottawa or Toronto) between 2 playoff games to go home - which is against the rules. Bettman fined the team - IIRC.

MIserable performance as commisioner...yea like higher ratings, more money, OLympics/NHL, and a growing league. Winter Classic, HBO....I think he's doing a decent job all things considered.

I dont want to get into an evaluate Gary Betteman's tenure right now. But just the things you listed like higher ratings (they couldnt have gotten any worse than Gary had gotten them), winter classic (not Gary's idea...he piggeybacked off the heritage classic and cold war games), HBO (again not his idea or doing), Olympics (he actually prefers NOT to have NHLers in the games if i recall correctly. Even if thats true, how on earth does he take credit for the Olympics?), are all mostly independent of his influence. He does get credit for screwing the Devils over many times. And if he has to put up with a 'you suck' then boohoo. Cry me a river.

Edited by devlman, 05 January 2011 - 01:30 PM.

[HellOnICE]

Oh right right, just because they happened under his watch as commissioner...doesn't mean he's not responsible for them. I GET IT.

So Heritage Classic, which happened 10 years into his reign as Commis...he shouldn't get credit for?

He doesn't want them in the olympics? Really? Why does he go then? Why do they promote it?

Many times? When is this many times. Aside from the KOvalchuk thing...when has Gary targeted the Devils. Really?

[Triumph]

you're not going to get anywhere arguing with bettman haters. they think he's responsible for everything bad and has nothing to do with anything good.

that said, i am convinced half of our fan base lives in that trailer park from 'the wrestler'.

[devlman]

you're not going to get anywhere arguing with bettman haters. they think he's responsible for everything bad and has nothing to do with anything good.

that said, i am convinced half of our fan base lives in that trailer park from 'the wrestler'.

Unless you can prove it with corsi on ice time during Wednesday games its not true. You can pretend to be a smart elitist all you want but you're hardly one.

[JakeDev]

Oh right right, just because they happened under his watch as commissioner...doesn't mean he's not responsible for them. I GET IT.

So Heritage Classic, which happened 10 years into his reign as Commis...he shouldn't get credit for?

He doesn't want them in the olympics? Really? Why does he go then? Why do they promote it?

Many times? When is this many times. Aside from the KOvalchuk thing...when has Gary targeted the Devils. Really?

there is a trapezoid rule isnt there?

im sure other goalies always play the puck....

[HellOnICE]

Sorry I thought Bob Clarke-influenced and the rules committe did the trapezoid...clearly Bettman sits on those...oh he doesn't?

[devlman]

Sorry I thought Bob Clarke-influenced and the rules committe did the trapezoid...clearly Bettman sits on those...oh he doesn't?

What happened to if it was under his watch then he gets the credit? You just conveniently pick and choose anything to fit youre arguement, even if its clearly hypocritical

[CarpathianForest]

Bettman could only care about one thing and that's any player with the name Crosby on his back and how well he can market the guy even if it means bending the rules a bit.

[ThreeCups]

Well the Devils do have some responsibility in that and two again we have NO INFORMATION as to what kind of pressure the administration was on from other owners - who again, employ gary.

What a copout. I'm sure the owners didn't have a gun to Bettman's head to crucify us. He did it because he is an a-hole...plain and simple

Edited by ThreeCups, 05 January 2011 - 03:25 PM.

[ThreeCups]

It was bogus contract and Lou knew it. The league had to make a statement to the other GM's. The Devils accepted the penalties so should you.

Make a statement? It was practically the same thing as several other contracts. If Kovy signed that contract to join the Pens, Bettman would be stroking himself in his office. I don't think the Devils "accepted" these penalties happily. What could we do in that situation?!?!?

Edited by ThreeCups, 05 January 2011 - 03:26 PM.

[njdevil26]

No matter what happened with the Kovy saga last summer... people have to stop blaming Bettman for EVERYTHING. People complain over and over again about the Caps and Pens being shoved down our throat... well let's look at it? Would the Devils have been able to provide access for HBO's 24/7 like we got to see? HELL NO. The Caps and Pens are two teams with HUGE fan bases and also sell out every game. Their ticket prices are close to the same as ours and their fans have no problem filling the arena night in and night out. Complain however you want about Sid and Ovie... Sid is an absolute GOD and hero in his hometown in Canada and also is one of the best players in the world. The NHL would be STUPID not to market the hell out of him. As for Ovechkin, if Crosby is #1 then he's #1a. He's one of the only reasons that hockey is a big deal in the US Capital right now.

As for the Kovy contract. It was complete horse crap. 17 years? Come on... show me how many Russian superstars had a career that long. The Devils were trying to take advantage of the fact that there was no specific written rule for what they were trying to do even though it was a complete slap in the face and lie-on-paper as it was given to the league. The other contracts anyone could bring up are certainly "pushing the envelope" and the league WARNED GMs what would happen if it continued. So there goes Lou and JVB handing the WORST one in to the league and holding a press conference before it gets accepted thinking everything's going to be cool.

And I am sick and tired of hearing people talk about how Bettman is doing this and Bettman is doing that blah blah blah. The NHL is a LARGE company with different divisions and boards and committees. Sidney Crosby happens to be the league's top money maker... his salary is a legit one as is his cap hit... he has saved hockey in Pittsburgh along with Mario Lemiuex, has ridiculous endorsement deals.. and so on. What is the NHL supposed to do... tell him to fvck off? Say "hey you'll make us a ton of money but we really don't feel like it right now." Then people complain "why can't Parise be marketed like that?" The Devils and ours truly Mr. Lamoriello happens to have complete control over those kinds of ordeals. You'll have to take my word for it but I know from a Devils management point of view there are a LOT of things the players can and can't do and a good number of things that no one will ever have access to. Besides Lemaire on Versus last night, when was the last time you saw a Devils coach get interviewed like that during a game?

People say Bettman ruined the NHL's television broadcasting situation by moving it to Versus. Well ESPN was giving the NHL minimal airtime and was completely lowballing the league left and right. Hockey has a lot more exposure and airtime now that it is away from ESPN.

People also blame Bettman for the southern expansion in the league. Is it his fault? Really? He made a bold decision to expand the game. If a franchise works in a certain city it gains a lot of fans and starts an entire grassroots hockey campaign at the college, high school, and youth level. It's not his fault that Wadell in Atlanta doesn't know his ass from his elbow... it's not his fault that the arena in Glendale, AZ was built where it was and the owners have shallow pockets. It's not his fault that the GM of the Panthers can't ice a respectable team. It's also not his fault that Wang in Long Island, despite the amount zero's on the second half of his bank account cannot get his team a new building and expensive payroll. As for Canadian expansion, where in Canada can another team go. Canada has less than 40 million people right? That's about the amount of the New York, Boston, Philly, and Chicago metro areas combined. Where is there another city in Canada that has the dense downtown along with millions of people in the metro area that can support a team? Winnipeg? No. Use Bing or Google Earth and you'll see how far Winnipeg's metro area reaches.

I'm going on and on I know, but people are blaming one guy for this and that and the other thing and it's not fair.

Back to the Devils... a year like this has shown me how much of a sh!t franchise we might have. There are NO fans. When Philly was the worst team in the league a few years ago they sold out almost every game. Ottawa hasn't been great in recent memory but they fill their building. Our fans show up whenever they feel like it. Yeah ticket prices are expensive but there are SO many ways around that it's not even funny. And while in the building they boo the team left and right, yell slurs about Canada regardless of how many Canadians are on the Devils, and many other things that piss me off.

So back to the original subject. Congrats to the OP. You yelled you suck at someone proving you are more ignorant than most people here. Especially because you came back thinking that everyone here would laugh and congratulate you on your childish display. People here have a lot to learn.

[CarpathianForest]

I don't live anywhere near New Jersey, Devil26, so do I get a pass on not attending games?

[njdevil26]

I don't live anywhere near New Jersey, Devil26, so do I get a pass on not attending games?

Obviously.

[CarpathianForest]

Obviously.

Just making sure.

[MantaRay]

Make a statement? It was practically the same thing as several other contracts. If Kovy signed that contract to join the Pens, Bettman would be stroking himself in his office. I don't think the Devils "accepted" these penalties happily. What could we do in that situation?!?!?

It was because of the Pronger/Hossa contracts last year that the league pretty much was on guard for the next "outlandish" contract which happened to be Kovy's. Message sent.

It would have been voided if other teams offered this as well.

[njdevil26]

You're what I like to call a "good fan" not living anywhere near the arena but still rooting hard for the team and having an internet presence to go along with it.

Everyone seems cool when the team is winning. But in a year like this, everyone show's their true colors and it really is shocking. How many other franchises can claim they have accomplished what the Devils have outside of the Red Wings, Yankees, Manchester United, and NE Patriots. We are so spoiled its not even funny. Well this year the Devils SUCK. And as a reward for us dealing with it, they may get a top draft pick and draft a future star for the organization. That's not a bad thing.

It was because of the Pronger/Hossa contracts last year that the league pretty much was on guard for the next "outlandish" contract which happened to be Kovy's. Message sent.

It would have been voided if other teams offered this as well.

I agree. And Kovy and the Devils made it into some kind of sick joke that 17 years was indicative to Kovy's weird superstition with the number. The press conference was a joke and was a big part of getting the Devils in the kind of trouble they got in.

[MantaRay]

No matter what happened with the Kovy saga last summer... people have to stop blaming Bettman for EVERYTHING. People complain over and over again about the Caps and Pens being shoved down our throat... well let's look at it? Would the Devils have been able to provide access for HBO's 24/7 like we got to see? HELL NO. The Caps and Pens are two teams with HUGE fan bases and also sell out every game. Their ticket prices are close to the same as ours and their fans have no problem filling the arena night in and night out. Complain however you want about Sid and Ovie... Sid is an absolute GOD and hero in his hometown in Canada and also is one of the best players in the world. The NHL would be STUPID not to market the hell out of him. As for Ovechkin, if Crosby is #1 then he's #1a. He's one of the only reasons that hockey is a big deal in the US Capital right now.

As for the Kovy contract. It was complete horse crap. 17 years? Come on... show me how many Russian superstars had a career that long. The Devils were trying to take advantage of the fact that there was no specific written rule for what they were trying to do even though it was a complete slap in the face and lie-on-paper as it was given to the league. The other contracts anyone could bring up are certainly "pushing the envelope" and the league WARNED GMs what would happen if it continued. So there goes Lou and JVB handing the WORST one in to the league and holding a press conference before it gets accepted thinking everything's going to be cool.

And I am sick and tired of hearing people talk about how Bettman is doing this and Bettman is doing that blah blah blah. The NHL is a LARGE company with different divisions and boards and committees. Sidney Crosby happens to be the league's top money maker... his salary is a legit one as is his cap hit... he has saved hockey in Pittsburgh along with Mario Lemiuex, has ridiculous endorsement deals.. and so on. What is the NHL supposed to do... tell him to fvck off? Say "hey you'll make us a ton of money but we really don't feel like it right now." Then people complain "why can't Parise be marketed like that?" The Devils and ours truly Mr. Lamoriello happens to have complete control over those kinds of ordeals. You'll have to take my word for it but I know from a Devils management point of view there are a LOT of things the players can and can't do and a good number of things that no one will ever have access to. Besides Lemaire on Versus last night, when was the last time you saw a Devils coach get interviewed like that during a game?

People say Bettman ruined the NHL's television broadcasting situation by moving it to Versus. Well ESPN was giving the NHL minimal airtime and was completely lowballing the league left and right. Hockey has a lot more exposure and airtime now that it is away from ESPN.

People also blame Bettman for the southern expansion in the league. Is it his fault? Really? He made a bold decision to expand the game. If a franchise works in a certain city it gains a lot of fans and starts an entire grassroots hockey campaign at the college, high school, and youth level. It's not his fault that Wadell in Atlanta doesn't know his ass from his elbow... it's not his fault that the arena in Glendale, AZ was built where it was and the owners have shallow pockets. It's not his fault that the GM of the Panthers can't ice a respectable team. It's also not his fault that Wang in Long Island, despite the amount zero's on the second half of his bank account cannot get his team a new building and expensive payroll. As for Canadian expansion, where in Canada can another team go. Canada has less than 40 million people right? That's about the amount of the New York, Boston, Philly, and Chicago metro areas combined. Where is there another city in Canada that has the dense downtown along with millions of people in the metro area that can support a team? Winnipeg? No. Use Bing or Google Earth and you'll see how far Winnipeg's metro area reaches.

I'm going on and on I know, but people are blaming one guy for this and that and the other thing and it's not fair.

Back to the Devils... a year like this has shown me how much of a sh!t franchise we might have. There are NO fans. When Philly was the worst team in the league a few years ago they sold out almost every game. Ottawa hasn't been great in recent memory but they fill their building. Our fans show up whenever they feel like it. Yeah ticket prices are expensive but there are SO many ways around that it's not even funny. And while in the building they boo the team left and right, yell slurs about Canada regardless of how many Canadians are on the Devils, and many other things that piss me off.

So back to the original subject. Congrats to the OP. You yelled you suck at someone proving you are more ignorant than most people here. Especially because you came back thinking that everyone here would laugh and congratulate you on your childish display. People here have a lot to learn.

+1

[devilsrule33]

Hey NJDevil26, Ottawa doesn't come close to filling their building. Without a ton of giveaways and discounted tickets, they'd average 14,000 people a game max. Better example would be any other Canadian team. But no point in comparing Canadian cities and American.

Edited by devilsrule33, 05 January 2011 - 04:07 PM.

[NJDevs4978]

Oh right right, just because they happened under his watch as commissioner...doesn't mean he's not responsible for them. I GET IT.

So Heritage Classic, which happened 10 years into his reign as Commis...he shouldn't get credit for?

He doesn't want them in the olympics? Really? Why does he go then? Why do they promote it?

Many times? When is this many times. Aside from the KOvalchuk thing...when has Gary targeted the Devils. Really?

He wants them in the Olympics when they're in Vancouver or Salt Lake. He's not too crazy about it when they're in Nagano or Sochi, Russia but he'll deal with Nagano to get Salt Lake and Sochi to get more concessions in labor bargaining.

While there's some truth to him not deserving blame for everything giving him a complete pass just because he's somewhat of a figurehead is a cop-out. The '95 lockout happened under his watch just when the NHL was starting to finally get some headway into the three major sports, which has never happened again since. The '04 season cancellation happened under his watch. Did it improve the game, in some ways yes and some ways no, certainly not enough to justify losing a whole season.

When Philly was the worst team in the league a few years ago they sold out almost every game. Ottawa hasn't been great in recent memory but they fill their building. Our fans show up whenever they feel like it.

Oh please, Philly's got like five times as big a fanbase as ours and most likely ticket prices are cheaper there, since we have one of the highest-priced buildings in the league. And Canada might as well be another world, of course Canadian teams are pretty much going to sell out every game every season.

[njdevil26]

I believe the Devils and Sens are probably about even in the giveaway and discount department. I also agree it's not fair to compare an American to Canadian city. But the Sens are averaging 18,114 per game during a BAD year. That's quite a bit more than the Devils have ever averaged on their best years.




There's the Flyers breakdown. Their tickets are pretty darn expensive. Keep in mind that you cannot find a 26 or 46 or even a 53$ seat. Their pricing is adjusted based on who they are playing. Saturday against the Devils, the cheapest ticket is 68$.
http://ev15.evenue.n...aller=&appCode=

Edited by njdevil26, 05 January 2011 - 04:14 PM.