But this was to no avail, as we all know. I believe that Mr. Bettman is deluding himself if he thinks that the league is in good shape. They need to ensure long term labour peace to avoid the drop in fan base that has happened to baseball. Fans are really getting sick of pro teams crying poor then spending millions on third line players. Then there is of course the players that cry about making less than they feel they are worth.
Fans have little sympathy for overpaid players and cry-baby multimillionaire owners.
As for Mr. Bettman's comments that four of six Canadian teams made the playoffs last year even with the currency problems. Teams can afford to develop young players, and may even make the playoffs. But once those players get too expensive they are traded or sign elsewhere as free agents. The team that barely made the playoff then falls off the pace for a couple of years until some of the young prospects they got in return for their former star mature and the whole cycle starts again. These teams have little to no hope of actually winning the cup.