Gary Bettman has four days to salvage what little remains of his appalling reputation.
It doesn’t matter how much he has earned, how many millions he has in the bank, how much revenue he has brought to the National Hockey League, he will be forever tarred by his own inability to keep his game on the ice.
And should a deal not be made by Friday in this insidious lockout, with everything looking so close, Bettman’s second cancelled season will be reason enough for the owners who hired him to finally fire him. This is where the line gets drawn between Bettman, commissioner of the NHL, and Donald Fehr, head of the NHL Players’ Association.
Fehr has a responsibility to his membership and no real responsibility for the league or their fans. Bettman works for the owners, but ultimately is responsible for the league and to its fans. Should there be no training camps open next weekend, his time as commissioner should close as well.
