Blurb: No need to rub your eyes or clean your glasses. That is indeed a 40-year-old Gary Bettman, fresh off of his hiring as the NHL’s first commissioner, in what might very well be one of the only public appearances he’s ever made in anything other than a suit. Hired away from his role as senior VP of the NBA, Bettman was met with significant optimism upon his arrival, particularly as it came as the NHL was readying for its latest round of southern and western U.S. expansion – Anaheim and Florida joined the league in his first season, and later on, Nashville, Seattle, and Las Vegas. He was originally given a mandate for five seasons as league czar, which seems unthinkable given he’s now been in charge for three decades.
Ironically, among the first things Bettman mentioned to the media after being installed by the NHL owners was the necessity of labor peace. “The first and most important issue for a sports league is stability with its players and having a relationship that works,” he said. The league was just recovering from the shocking general strike during the 1991-92 season. But the NHL lockout that resulted in a shortened 1994-95 campaign occurred in Bettman’s second season as commish.
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