Utah HC Owner Puts Gary Bettman In Unprecedented Position During Home Opener

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Tom Banks
October 22, 2024 (8:38 PM)

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The arrival of the Utah Hockey Club has been red-hot in Salt Lake City, and owner Ryan Smith recounts a story about the awkward spot he put Gary Bettman in.

This off-season, the Utah Hockey Club joined the NHL officially as the 32nd team after relocating from Arizona, and through two weeks, it's been an incredible story thus far. Former Hockey Night in Canada host Don Cherry has called the team his surprise team of the year, and predicts they will go to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and with a 4-1-1 record through six games, it's not a bad prediction.

One thing that has stood out to anyone watching thus far is the electric atmosphere at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, with Opening Night against the Chicago Blackhawks being a banner night for the NHL. Speaking of that evening, it was a topic that came up on Ryan Smith's interview on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, where he noted an unusual story with Gary Bettman, whom he gave a seat on the glass too, a very unusual position for the Commissioner.

"I didn't know that ... it's a whole new world. Especially not knowing that Gary doesn't sit on the glass. It wasn't till like halfway through when I was like, 'Hey, when's the last time you sat on the glass like this?' and he's like, 'Yeah, we don't, we don't do that.'"

Given the NHL fans general feelings towards Bettman, it's no surprise that he doesn't sit on the glass, with a man of his position usually preferring to sit in a suite, but on this night, he was given what many believe is the best seat in the house. The Utah Hockey Club would go on to dominate the division rival Blackhawks on that night, with the fans in attendance going wild, and it's sure to be a night that neither Smith nor the Commissioner will ever forget.