Brian Burke For NHL Commissioner?

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

With so many NHL fans calling for the head of current NHL commissioner Gary Bettman these days, one has to wonder just how long it will be before there is serious pressure to replace him?

Bettman has served as the NHL’s Commissioner since February 1, 1993, which equates to just under two decades of work.

While there are plenty of fans out there that are quick to throw Bettman under the bus it must be noted that under the guidance of Bettman the NHL has grown it’s revenues from $400 million in 1993 to a whopping $2.2 billion sports industry.

Bettman has also been on hand to add six expansion teams into the fold, albeit with various levels of success.

Through it all Bettman has tried his best to give America what it wants, trusting in his belief that he can change American culture to include the great game of hockey, with the ultimate goal of one day making the NHL a household name to all.

While Bettman should be applauded for increasing revenues and expanding into Southern markets I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the dark side of his reign, including, but not limited to, two work stoppages, including the 2004-05 lockout in which the players and NHL elected to shut down for the entire season.

The lockout season has to be the Bettman’s all-time low, with the current ownership and revenue woes of the Phoenix Coyotes coming a distant second. Bettman has also struggled to make good decisions with regard to player safety, especially head shots (recently addressed) and fighting in hockey.

Bettman’s lack of leadership and forethought on these issues have made him the target of both traditionalists (who want the game left alone) and left wing hockey fans (who are lobbying for change).

The fact is, Bettman has done very little to make the NHL a safer place to play and, on many instances, has been caught dragging his feet on issues and rule changes that could reduce injury and perhaps prevent the death of a hockey player.

Early on in his tenure Bettman had great success securing revenue from several television networks, including, Fox (who signed a five year, $155 million deal with the NHL in 1994-95), ABC and ESPN (who signed a five year, $600 million deal in 1998).

Today the NHL finds itself without a major television contract, settling for a revenue sharing deal with NBC and a $207.5 million contract with Versus—a much smaller network with questionable reach and influence on the American market.

Admittedly, $207.5 million is a lot of money, but it represents a significant reduction in television revenue from the $600 million the NHL once earned and is a step in the wrong direction. Let’s face it, in television terms, $207.5 million is just a drop in the bucket—especially when you consider the potential reach the NHL has.

Despite the NHL’s struggle to become a permanent fixture on one of the bigger networks in the States the game is on the upswing, attracting new fans and deepening it’s roots with the loyal fans through events like the Winter Classic and the NHL’s participation in the Olympics.

That said, these events are just that, “events”, not long-term solutions to attract new generations of fans throughout North America.

In the end, for every victory Bettman has had over the years he has had equal amounts of controversy and failure, which is why some are calling for Bettman to be replaced—the question is, which individual brings the right portfolio to be able to replace Bettman?

The job of NHL commissioner is not easy. Never will the commissioner be able to appease everyone and he will constantly be under tough criticism for any and all moves he chooses to make.

A commissioner must be of strong mind, integrity and have a vision for the future of the NHL.

The biggest change that I feel is needed if/when the NHL finds itself a new commissioner is in the “vision for the future department”. The NHL needs a new direction, one that can take this great game to the next level through innovation and creative thinking.

One man who is constantly coming up with new ideas and innovative change is none other than Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager, Brian Burke.

Burke has over 20 years of experience as a general manager, director of hockey operations, president, and a few other positions as well.

At one time Burke acted as senior vice-president and director of hockey operations for the NHL, handing down punishment to players for their on-ice conduct and working alongside Bettman on the collective bargaining agreement and giving direction to the League.

Burke is a graduate of Harvard Law (1981), an attribute that serves him well in his current position and one that is very much needed to head the NHL.

Burke is never shy to voice his opinion, often thinking outside the box, which, on occasion, stirs up controversy. His displeasure with the restrictions the salary cap puts upon teams is well documented, as is his innovative approach to getting around it.

It is Burke’s ability to think outside the box that makes him so valuable to the NHL. Burke can see where others are blind, Burke sees issues from all sides and, in my opinion, has his finger on the pulse of the NHL, it’s players and from a team perspective. Burke “gets it” and for that reason, he would make an excellent commissioner.

Burke is known in NHL circles as a builder who wants his players to play with (as Burke put it) as much “truculence” as Burke himself does within his role. His abrupt nature and gruff demeanor may intimidate many media members, but it is that staunch nature that makes Burke what he is—a unique blend of smarts, passion and integrity.

That said, behind his tough shell lives a family man who takes great pride in his children. He is kind, fair and believes in people who want to better themselves. Clearly, Burke has little tolerance for those that are simply along for the ride. Those that work alongside or play for Burke are subjected to a high standard of achievement, which is to say Burke demands his troops to work as hard as he does.

Burke is fiercely loyal to his players and management team and often defends his players in the media. Conversely, Burke is quick to react to any and all NHL issues, often making an effort to not only get his opinion out there, but to suggest ways in which the NHL can be better as well.

Some stances Burke has made in the past include saying no to shoot-outs, supporting the punishment of diving, his tremendous support to outlaw head shots and, most recently, his lobbying to allow players to “bear hug” an opponent in an effort to cushion the damage that is done when a player is slammed into the boards from behind.

Burke has also stated that he believes NHL teams should be allowed to trade for cap room, which would be a creative way to get more action at the trade deadline and give teams the ability to move large contracts.

Without a doubt, Burke has demonstrated that he is all about innovation, a man with a vision that serves to benefit the players, the League and it's members alike.

One thing is for sure, Burke may take his fair share of shots at the media, but he most certainly is media savvy, often using the media like puppets to get his thoughts and ideas heard by the masses.

A man who understands the value of the media and how to manipulate it would be a great asset to the NHL and it's members, no question about it.

Burke is currently in his second year of a six year contract with the Leafs. There is little doubt that Burke will stay with the Leafs for the entirety of his contract, dedicated to bringing a Stanley Cup to Toronto. What happens after that is anyone's guess, hopefully he considers a role as the NHL’s commissioner.

Catch Louis "King of Roncesvalles" Pisano and I while we talk hockey on “Get the Puck Out” hockey show at www.MorencySports.com every Saturday between 6-7pm EST you can check out past shows at www.ustream.com you can also call in and voice your opinion during the show.

To read more NHL news and notes check out my website at www.theslapshot.com

Until next time,

Peace!