The NBA and NHL have different agendas: The NBA is much more protective of its players and its brand; the NHL has less to lose, and it's in their best interest to generate buzz any way they can.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
NBA games are exciting to watch and have global appeal. They are very popular in China. I do watch NBA games on television when I have time.
The NBA is becoming a global game.
Hockey should have some appeal. It's a good game in that is full of action, very quick, and it can be high-scoring.
Hockey lends itself to special events, including the Olympic competition: a glorious tournament of the best players in the world, putting on their national jerseys and playing on big rinks with no-goon Olympic rules and referee enforcement.
Playoff hockey is the best way to market your team. It's the best way to grow your fan base and give hope to your players and for them to develop.
Hockey is a unique sport in the sense that you need each and every guy helping each other and pulling in the same direction to be successful.
The Canadian franchises and Canada as a market for NHL hockey has always been a priority for us.
Listen, everything I have in my life is because of the NHL and because of hockey, and I love the game and I loved every minute of being a player, I loved coaching, I loved being involved in the NHL.
I've always loved sports and hockey is a sport I play as much as I can. I love it. In a weird way it's like church and therapy and exercise all rolled up into one. I mean when I play hockey I don't think about anything.
The only thing wrong with the NBA - or any other professional sport, for that matter - is a wild epidemic of Dumbness and overweening Greed. There is no Mystery about it, and no need to change any rules.