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Gary Bettman & the NHL Drawing Heavy Criticism Over Scheduling Decision for 2025 Western Conference Final
Photo credit: Los Angeles Times
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the league are drawing heavy criticism on social media over a scheduling decision for the 2025 Western Conference Final between Dallas and Edmonton.
Gary Bettman, the Commissioner of the National Hockey League, has faced quite a bit of criticism over his 32 years in charge, as well as plenty of praise, including a decision to raise the salary cap by roughly $25 million USD over the next three seasons.
However on Saturday night, after the Dallas Stars eliminated the Winnipeg Jets from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in overtime of Game 6, the National Hockey League announced the schedules for the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, the latter of which was met with heavy criticism from fans.
NHL, Gary Bettman drawing criticism for Western Conference Final schedule
As mentioned, the National Hockey League revealed the schedule for the Western Conference Final on Saturday night and it'll be a rematch of last season as the Dallas Stars will face Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers starting on Wednesday night.
For a number of years now, it's been the standard to have games in each of the Conference Finals begin at 8 pm ET, as it's prime time for viewing on television, however that won't be the case for Game 3 between Dallas and Edmonton.
One week from today, the two teams will meet in Edmonton for Game 3 of the series and instead of an 8 pm ET/6 pm local puck drop, the National Hockey League has decided to schedule this contest for 3 pm ET/1 pm local, which understandably, isn't sitting too well with fans.
"Why is game 3 of WCF at 3pm est????" Oilers fan @mcmanus17 said on X.
"The NHL is going to make the two Western teams play a Game 3 in the afternoon less than 48 hours after Game 2 and a long day of travel? What a joke." @redblue325 said.
"Sunday afternoon game
What a joke the NHL is" @visuallybitter said.
What a joke the NHL is" @visuallybitter said.
"Classic NHL 1 local start for a WCF game. Way to go Gary. F**king idiot" @Nursefan123 said.
Based on the replies, fans aren't very happy with this decision, which is completely understandable and while Gary Bettman and the league are partly to blame on this front, some of that anger should also be directed to the television networks as well, including ESPN, who will be broadcasting the Western Conference Final in the United States.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
MAI 18 | 726 ANSWERS Gary Bettman & the NHL Drawing Heavy Criticism Over Scheduling Decision for 2025 Western Conference Final Do you think all Conference Final games should begin at 8 pm ET? | ||
| Yes | 455 | 62.7 % |
| No | 271 | 37.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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