Gary Bettman Accused of Rigging the NHL in Favor of Certain Teams

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has long been accused of disliking Canadian teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, and now, some fans are going a lot deeper with this theory.
Gary Bettman is likely retiring from his post as commissioner of the National Hockey League soon. However, he still has one more CBA to negotiate.

Interestingly enough, there has been a lot of chatter as of late concerning the tax advantages that states like Florida, Texas, and Nevada get.

Some feel as though the NHL needs to step in, while others think that this is a non-issue. Needless to say, it is a polarizing topic for hockey fans around North America.

Florida beat Edmonton in Game 6 to win second straight Stanley Cup | Reuters

Does Gary Bettman hate Canada?

According to Chris Johnston of TSN, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has already confirmed that the next CBA won’t address the tax advantage.
Ultimately, the league is looking the other way.

Bill Daly says the NHL won’t address the state income tax issue that some clubs have raised with any rule changes included in the next collective bargaining agreement.

For hockey analyst Rachel Doerrie, this is because Gary Bettman has a bias and a vested interest in Southern teams.

Without the tax advantage, players wouldn’t want to go there, thus making them uncompetitive. If the Florida teams are uncompetitive, then they fold.
Because he needs those markets to succeed or they’re irrelevant in their cities.

If I’m TOR, MTL, NYR owners, I’d be saying «address it or we’re going to push back against revenue sharing (if possible).» Most of those teams wouldn’t exist without it. They have to leverage their financial strength, somehow.

Fans seem to agree with Doerrie on this one, with many making the same comments about how the league wants to see the Southern teams succeed.

It’s hard to argue with that when a Floridian team has made the Stanley Cup Finals in six-straight seasons. For some, it has gotten out of hand.
One has to wonder how the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning will perform next season, and if one of them makes the Cup Finals again.