Gary Bettman claims ‘no one tanks’ in NHL
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman made headlines throughout a media availability in Montreal on Tuesday previous to the Canadiens‘ 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on the Bell Centre, when he claimed that “no one tanks” to enhance their draft lottery odds.
Particularly, Bettman emphasised the truth that the draft lottery is a weighted system, reasoning that “you’re not going to lose video games to extend your odds by a few proportion factors.”
“And admittedly, suggesting tanking, I consider, is inconsistent with the professionalism that our gamers and our coaches have,” the commissioner mentioned.” Our gamers and our coaches do their greatest to win.”
Participant agent Allan Walsh ranked among the many many who scoffed at Bettman’s claims that “no one tanks.”
For the time being, the groups with the best odds of successful the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery (and thus, the possibility to pick Connor Bedard first general) are, so as:
Most clearly, the Blackhawks and Coyotes are tanking to enhance their lottery odds, and jumpstart rebuilds. You would argue that these two groups have been tanking the toughest for a participant because the Tim Murray Buffalo Sabres angled for Connor McDavid (and ended up with Jack Eichel).
Bettman advised reporters that the league’s investigation into sexual assault allegations made towards Canada’s 2018 World Junior group is nearing a conclusion.
“Doing an investigation of this nature, gaining access to data and folks, isn’t one thing which you can simply snap your fingers and make occur,” Bettman mentioned. “Clearly, we’re not the one ones conducting an investigation and apparently no one’s finished but and so we need to convey it to its conclusion, however we’re simply not there but.”
Because it often does, the subject of growth and relocation got here up with Bettman talking within the bowels of the Bell Centre, with the commissioner stating that Canadiens proprietor Geoff Molson helps the opportunity of an growth group in Quebec Metropolis.
Lastly, Bettman hinted that the wage cap may climb extra quickly, however provided that escrow is totally paid off this 12 months. NHL GMs can be smart to keep away from any assumptions till the 2023-24 wage cap ceiling is about in stone.
Extra from Yahoo Sports activities