BEST SEASON EVER⁉ Commissioner Gary Bettman on Oilers-Panthers, NHL's growth & more! | First Take 

I still think the BIGGEST problem with hockey is the fact that it is still extremely inaccessible to most kids. Alot of people don't care for a sport that they themselves have never even been able to play. Think of all of the "could have been" talent that never happened because a kids parents just weren't able to afford some of the rinks crazy registration prices. It's a shame because hockey IS the greatest sport on earth. It's the most fun to play as well... it's just too bad that so few can ever even experience what it's like being on the ice in full hockey equipment with your stick and a puck.

“a canada team” I think the word youre looking for is “Canadian” Molly 🤦

Has there ever been a time when ESPN has posted 3 hockey videos in 1 day!?

It's nice to see all the main talk shows on espn cover this series. Hopefully everyone tunes in.

Batman gonna do what it takes to not let Canada win

Hockey is truly the greatest playoff sport. The cup could potentially be decided in sudden death overtime in a game 7. Lord Stanley’s cup is so hard to win. And it can all literally come down to a single moment.

Let's go Oilers!

Gary Bettman doesn’t age he looks more or less the same the last 20 years lol

Wow - Stephen Smith really knows his hockey...

Let's go Oilers! Prediction: Oilers take it 4-2.

Mr. Bettman!

Shout-out from Winnipeg MB Canada which is basically the Detroit of Canada!

TO THE BETTCAVE

Best season is still 00-01. Bourque cementing his legacy was awesome to see and the talent level in every team in those playoffs was off the charts. FTR I'm a Blues fan and I can honestly say from an entertainment perspective that this has been the most entertaining playoffs since but not better than 00-01.

Oilers in 7

Molly is gorgeous..😍

Its a little different now with a 32 team league. It's not a 21 team league with 7 of them in Canada where there was a 33% chance of winning and 16 teams made the playoffs. Now there's only a 20% chance a Canadian team will win and 80% chance an American team will win so the drought since the early 90s isn't exactly unexpected.

The fact that this Playoff run isn't getting attention until Game 7 of the FINALS is fucking disgraceful!!! ESPN should be ashamed of themselves. You've failed the sport, the players, and the fans.

Let's go Oilers! Win it for Edmonton and all of Canada!🍁

How would you like to be told to unload on those 0:02

The game is better than i remembered since the 80s and early 90s. Better scoring than the dead puck era. Thats the only suprise watching some hockey this year

Length of season is absolutely ridiculous!

2 great teams that never ended up EVER being a Canadian team winning just a coincidence they say , believe them they say

Commissioner have you been Drinking? Lol. Said very well. Peace ✌️😎.

I’ve grown to respect and appreciate Bettman more and more yes should he have done way better growing and marketing the league like the nba etc of course but by this I mean I can’t hate the guy either anymore

Yea see you in 365 days Gary on first take

Still cant wait to hear the boos for this man, so good 😂

It has been the greatest season ever for the Florida Panthers, and thats why they will win game 7

Sorry Gary, but the 🏆 is coming back to 🇨🇦!! Go Oilers!!!

we're guaranteed memes either way that said i think i speak for everyone when i say the memes that would come if florida loses would be even funnier

I believe panthers might be a great team

You can just tell he does not want Edmonton to win

Bettman glosses over the fact that for years Canadian teams not named the Maple Leafs or Canadiens were at a gigantic disadvantage. Edmonton supported it's team through 10yrs of no playoffs with sellout after sellout, nobody wanted to play here, and before Katz came we couldn't afford a competitive team. Obviously I am biased because I live in Edmonton, but losing Winnipeg and Quebec City as franchises were blows to all of Canada. So yes, it may not be a two country league, but make no mistake. Almost every Canadian market has seen their teams through some incredibly dark times, not just bad teams, but a financial disadvantage that Bettman should be embarrassed to ignore. Fans may jab each other in other markets, and lots of Canadian fans will not be cheering if Edmonton somehow wins the cup, but some of us fans know what it was like to fear your team was leaving town... And I think Toronto and Montreal may be the only cities that were unaffected. If this was any other city in Canada, I would be happy for their fans because I respect what it has taken from them to still have a team. It's criminal that Quebec lost their team and Winnipeg had to go without for so long, that is why SOME Canadian's will be rooting for the Oilers

Well Gary Bettman we all know you are happy that Florida won and by the way you didn't answer the question but how would Canada feel it Canadian team won the Stanley Cup in 32 years .

Bring a couple more franchises to Canada....

Oilers 🇨🇦all night

200 to 300 just for a damn hockey stick these days. skates are 300 to 500... yearly ice time fees can be 500 and way more. that's why hockey will never grow... too damn expensive. Minneapolis, Minnesota used to have 6 public high school teams in the late 80's early 90's... now the largest city in the so-called "state of Hockey" has just 1 public school team. Sad.

Is this a MCDAVID cup or a BETTMAN cup?? Bettman lives in florida

That “Duchene Call” fucked over the Panthers.

Why is ESPN so pro-Canada?

It doesn't matter who wins tonight as long as the refereeing isn't the deciding factor. 😮

I’m a Garry Bettman guy. I don’t ever ponder what the NHL would be like without him. 2020 showed how much the NHL commissioner cares about the game and player well-being.

NHL to Houston?

LETS GO OILERS 🎉

People acting like McDavid is the greatest thing since Gretzky is comical. Guy has played 10 years and just now he could be getting his first stanley cup and thats still an if based on tonight. Even if he does win a cup, he is not anywhere near the level of players like Crosby, Lemeiux, Ovechkin, and Messier were during their career.

The fact that he even brings up the canadin drought since hes been commissioner is so sus!!! 😂

The NHL can’t grow until Bettman is gone

😅 Canada o Canada it’s coming home 😂

I heard Bettman hates Canada

GO OILERS GO

All rigged for a game 7. Hockey does it to compete with the rest of sports. Now Canada united eating go up $$$ all around ads. Ticket sales merchandise etc then local restaurant bars all over cause there pretty much nothing else on now playoff wise in sports. Yeah all of sudden the panthers forgot how to play and just get beaten down. There are backroom deals going on. They built up there poster boy Mcdoofus. So he didn’t look bad. They will win in coming years. Panthers win at home finally getting a Cup. The amount money made plus betting is nuts. Sports suck these days

It never ceases to amaze me how ppl can complain about Gretz and Mcdavid playing for the same team, when Mario Lemieux, Jagr, and Sidney Crosby literally exist.

B00Bs

The whole series highlight package is of the Oilers, lol.

I hope the oilers win but Bettman likes the cup in America

Best season ever ??? hahahahahahahahahahahahaha !!!! No Way !!!

Oh look, Gary must have called in from his home in Hell

Why does that guy have to yell? Jesus

Unpredictable lol, get out of here! If a Canadian team & a USA team make it to the Final, there’s a 100% chance the Canadian team won’t win the cup 😂

Time for Betman to leave, 31 yrs is too long. He doesn't like Canadian teams and never will.

Good interview Gary but next CBA clean up LTIR and tax haven teams and give Canada another franchise or two.

Greedy owners fronted by Bettman kept the best playoffs in history off mainstream public television. And denied access to millions of future fans. Owners are stewards of the sport. But they think they own professional hockey. They don't. The fans do.

Hockey is going to die, Big business is killing hockey. Growing up I was lucky enough to be able to watch hockey for free, now greed is killing this game, I refuse to pay a full years subscription to SN so I can watch 7-8 games. The commissioner is a business man ...He could care less about hockey, Bettman needs to step down

Bettman ruined the game when he took over in 1993 period. Funny how he didn't mention the years with no salary cap. Canadian teams could not compete for about 15 years. Bettman has been all about business. He has no care of the game.

I can guarantee you Bettman does not want either the Oilers or a Canadian team to win tonight. Jack ass.

Panthers gonna shut ish down tonight!!!

Bettman hates Canada

What a joke such a scam

NHL is rigged

Florida win ❤❤❤

Non stop McCrybaby glazing