My message to the kids and our fans is hockey's a great game. There's a lot of hockey being played at all levels. Get involved, do it. We will be back and we will be back better than ever and hopefully as soon as possible. Don't give up on the game. It's too good.

market ending labor unrest completing expansion plans and modernizing the views of the "old guard" within the ownership ranks. The owners hired Bettman with the mandate of selling the game in the U. However Bettman was able to negotiate a deal with Comcast to air the NHL on the Outdoor Life Network channel which was later renamed Versus in 2006.

Under Bettman the NHL has seen rapid growth of league revenues from $400 million when he was hired to over $3. These controversies have made him unpopular with many fans around the league. Previously Bettman was a senior vice-president and general counsel to the National Basketball Association (NBA).