Gary Bettman claims hockey is growing but major US television show's comments say otherwise
For a long time, the goal around the National Hockey League has been to grow the game, make it become global. This is something NHL commissionaire Gary Bettman has said over and over, but this would say otherwise.
First Take, an American television program had a segment asking who the next New York based team would win a championship next, one of the hosts suggested the New York Rangers but was quickly shut down and laughed at, take a look:
New York Yankees announcer Michael Kay suggested the Rangers would be next to win having newly acquired Patrick Kane, the other two on first take categorically shut it down by saying:
Before continue by saying they were talking about football, basketball and baseball
If the game of hockey is really growing at the rate Bettman thinks, why is it being left of a major network sports talk show?
If this proves anything, the game of hockey still has a long way to go before it's recognized as a major sport in the American market.
| POLL | ||
MARS 4 | 201 ANSWERS Gary Bettman claims hockey is growing but major US television show's comments say otherwise Do you think hockey is growing at the rate it should? | ||
| Yes | 35 | 17.4 % |
| No | 39 | 19.4 % |
| Hockey still has a long way to go | 43 | 21.4 % |
| Gary Bettman needs to go | 84 | 41.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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![Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) shoots the puck while Team Finland defenseman Olli Maata (3) defends during the first period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530714.webp "Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) shoots the puck while Team Finland defenseman Olli Maata (3) defends during the first period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images")
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530544.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) plays the puck and Team United States defenseman Charlie McAvoy (25) defends in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530571.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) plays the puck and Team United States defenseman Charlie McAvoy (25) defends in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
