Will disgruntled NHL owners stand up to Gary Bettman over length of lockout?
Gary Bettman has some explaining to do.
The NHL commissioner may lose sleep Tuesday night in the city that never sleeps as he prepared to sit down with the board of governors Wednesday at the New York law offices of Proskauer Rose in Times Square.
League sources told QMI Agency they expect Bettman to face pointed questions from some owners who have bitten their tongues long enough as the NHL lockout hits Day 81 Wednesday with an estimated $1.2 billion in lost revenues.
“I would think the owners who haven’t said anything are going to finally have their say after they get updated on where the discussions are at because nobody is happy where this is at,” said a league insider Tuesday. “Most certainly, (Bettman) has his allies, but if one owner who isn’t happy with the fact that the business is being damaged by this lockout stands up, then I think you could see a group of owners stand up to have their say.
“Nobody wants the league to give the players everything they want, but not everybody is prepared to lose the season because they’re concerned with how the business is going to recover from this, especially in the United States.”
Now, it should be noted Bettman likes to be in control at board meetings and, quite frankly, the first two hours are likely going to be spent updating the owners of all 30 teams on how the league got here.