So Vancouver gets a chance to close out the Preds tonight. If they win, that leaves only the Sharks and Red Wings in this round. No pressure.
Rather doubt Bettman wants San Jose/Tampa Bay.
He sure as hell doesn’t want a Canadian team in the Finals. The ideal matchup for him at this point would be Boston versus San Jose.
Am I being whooshed (a distinct possibility) or are you contending Bettman hates Canada? Because IMO, casual fans, which all sports (especially hockey) need in the championship round, probably aren’t interested in watching two Sun Belt teams playing hockey.
Bettman wants Detroit/Boston. That’s the best matchup for US ratings.
Are they really going to make the Eastern Conference teams wait 8-9 days to start playing the conf. finals? Will they move both final series up if Vancouver and San Jose wrap things up this weekend?
Why do you care what he wants?
The NHL has a rule against any teams starting the next round before all of the previous round is wrapped up, out of fairness. etv78, Bettman wants the largest TV markets in the Finals, that’s all. Most of them aren’t in Canada.
Rick Bowness got fired as the Bruins coach in 1992 for only getting the team this far. They haven’t been back as far until now.
dalej42-I absolutely agree this is the ideal match-up for ratings, just don’t see Detroit digging out of 0-3.
Xan-He’s the commissioner of the league. :rolleyes:
Again, why does it matter what the commissioner wants? His wishes for the Cup matter about as much as mine, that is not at all.
He has a stake in the health of the league. :rolleyes:
So? it’s not like he’s going to influence the results.
Boston is a sun belt team?
I think he meant San Jose. We have great weather here, but it sure ain’t no sunbelt city.
with Thornton scoring the cup-winning OT goal in game 7 to finally balance the universe?
When was the last blizzard in San Jose? :dubious:
He doesn’t influence results! All I mean is: It behooves Bettman to be in charge of a healthy league.
You know that, and I know that, but does Bettman? The man couldn’t find his own ass with both hands and a flashlight.
He doesn’t have to. The refs, coaches, and even the players know the business side too.
Well, for far too long the NHL marketing plan has included “hope the Rangers go far in the playoffs” as a bullet point.