Bettman recognized and rewarded by NHL for 30 years as commissioner

With the NHL's annual Board of Governor's meeting taking place this week in Palm Beach, Florida the league took a moment to reflect on Gary Bettman's 30th year as NHL commissioner.

Bettman was presented with a framed proclamation by the Board of Governor's stating:

Whereas Gary B. Bettman, Commissioner of the National Hockey League, has, for thirty years, served steadfastly and admirably as the League's first commissioner, having been selected by the Board of Governors on December 11, 1992; and

Whereas the Board of Governors acknowledges and celebrates his presiding over the League's enormous growth and evolution into an entertainment and media company; and

Whereas in partnership with the Board of Governors, he has guided unprecedentedly good health and stability of the League's Member Clubs with an economic system that enables all franchises to thrive, while also increasing League revenue more than ten-fold and creating a competitive balance that is unmatched in professional sports; and

Whereas he prioritizes the League's ability to positively impact the communities in which we play by positioning the League as a strong, welcoming and leading voice for positive change; and

Whereas he helped to broaden the League's footprint from a regional sport to one that spans the breadth of North America and extends to a growing number of international markets; and

Whereas the transformative broadcast and digital rights deals, which secured the League's place in network television in the United States, have grown exponentially and deepened the League's connection to avid fans while gaining exposure to new audiences; and

Whereas his leadership over evolving and necessary changes to the sport's rules have been adopted at all levels worldwide to enhance players' safety and produce a renaissance of speed and skill without profoundly altering the sacred fundamentals of hockey; and

Whereas he has ensured that the development of technology to advance the playing, officiating and storytelling of the game does not interrupt the fans' experience and does not overwhelm its signature in-arena and broadcast human elements; and 

Whereas the League's establishment of a calendar of innovative tentpole events, particularly outdoor games, has deepened fans' connections to the unique aspects of hockey, while also revolutionizing the presentation of all professional sports; and

Whereas the Board of Governors extends deep appreciation to Gary B. Bettman for his bold vision and indefatigable stewardship of the game; and be it further

Resolved the preceding resolution be approved and proclaimed on this twelfth day of December 2022.

As much as I may not agree with Bettman's vision for the NHL, it's hard to argue with facts. The fact of the matter is that he has grown the NHL into an multi-billion dollar enterprise and has delivered on his promise to create a financially stable league. Personally, I think he has fixated too strongly on non-traditional markets, at the sacrifice of serving better markets, but that's besides the point. The point is that that the NHL has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 30 years and whether they want to admit it or not, hockey fans have Mr. Bettman to thank for that.