Gary Bettman Shows Who His Favorite NHL Team Is With Latest Decision
The NHL and its league staff are supposed to be impartial participants in the league. They are not supposed to pick sides or favorites when handing down rulings on controversial issues.
Today Gary Bettman showed that he indeed does have a favorite NHL team and ruled in favor of them giving them an advantage.
Bettman Allows Expansion Team To Break The Rules
Earlier this offseason it was announced that Gary Bettman and the NHL gave the Seattle Kraken and Shane Wright special treatment. The NHL ruled that Wright was eligible for a special exemption that allows him to play in the AHL when he is supposed to have another year of eligibility in the OHL.
Good news for Shane Wright: he'll be eligible to play in the AHL next season if he doesn't make the #SeaKraken roster out of training camp!
@JamisonCoyle | @asgrimson | #NHLTonight
@JamisonCoyle | @asgrimson | #NHLTonight
Last season Wright split time between the NHL, AHL, and OHL. It was clear he was too good for the OHL but wasn't allowed to play in the AHL yet. Now he will be able to a year early. This could mean a huge step for his development by playing against men in one of the best leagues in the world.
Fans of other teams believe that the Kraken are receiving special treatment based on the NHL's ruling. Several other players have shown that they could play at the AHL level like Wright has but have been denied an exemption.
Bettman Picks Favorites By Letting Wright Play In The AHL
While just about every team has one player who is likely too good for junior hockey in their prospect ranks one team and their fans took offense to the ruling in particular.
The Columbus Blue Jackets and their fans were quite upset by the ruling that allowed Shane Wright to go to the AHL this season. Their fans believe that they have 2 players that should qualify for the same treatment.
According to Aaron Portzline, it's been made clear to the Blue Jackets that neither Jordan Dumais nor Denton Mateychuk will receive an exemption from the NHL/CHL agreement.
If they don't make the #CBJ roster, they cannot play in the AHL (will be sent back to juniors).
If they don't make the #CBJ roster, they cannot play in the AHL (will be sent back to juniors).
Both Mateychuk and Dumais have torn up the junior ranks over the last 2 seasons. They are both producing at extraordinary rates for their position in their league. Despite this, they will not be granted an exception.
Denton Mateychuk out there chucking darts.
Make it 13 goals and 64 points in 65 WHL games - good for a share of the lead among draft-eligible defenders
Make it 13 goals and 64 points in 65 WHL games - good for a share of the lead among draft-eligible defenders
He has a career high 7 points against Moncton with 4 goals! All 4 goals
He now has 105 points on the season and 28 points on a 10 game point streak
He now has 105 points on the season and 28 points on a 10 game point streak
The two biggest differences between the Columbus pair and Shane Wright are their draft position and then of course team. If Shane Wright is able to succeed in the AHL and put up a lot of points this exception could become a trend.
For now, most teams will send their players back to juniors while the Kraken get a massive advantage.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 7 | 88 ANSWERS Gary Bettman Shows Who His Favorite NHL Team Is With Latest Decision Should Gary Bettman and the NHL have given only Shane Wright the AHL exception? | ||
| Just Shane Wright | 8 | 9.1 % |
| More Than Shane Wright | 20 | 22.7 % |
| No One Should Have Gotten The Exception | 60 | 68.2 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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