Gary Bettman disrespects Connor McDavid ahead of game 7
Photo credit: ESPN
The final game of the Stanley Cup Finals is upon us, with the Edmonton Oilers striving to complete an extraordinary reverse sweep against the Florida Panthers.
During a live interview ahead of tonight's crucial Game 7, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made remarks that seemed to disrespect Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid. The Oilers' captain has been instrumental in the team's remarkable playoff run.
"Connor McDavid has 134 assists this season & postseason. This is the 10th time in NHL history that a player had 125+ assists in a single season (incl. postseason). The other 9 times were Wayne Gretzky."
Despite McDavid's historic performance, Bettman refrained from acknowledging him as the best hockey player. In a live interview with sports broadcast personality Stephen A. Smith, Bettman commented:
"He is a bonafide superstar. Most prognosticators, fans, you know, critics and coverers of the sport think he's the best hockey player on the face of the earth, and he may well be."
Bettman's reluctance to outright declare McDavid as the best player on the planet left fans disappointed. However, he did recognize McDavid's playoff achievements, stating:
"I believe he's leading the playoffs in scoring. He's broken Wayne Gretzky's record for assists in the playoffs.
He has been truly remarkable, particularly in the last three games, which is why tonight is intriguing and unpredictable and I think the buildup for the excitement is justified and given, particularly the US audience an opportunity to see Connor McDavid this intensely I think is great for the sport, because, you know, he plays in Edmonton and playing there he doesn't get as much exposure in the US he does, for example, in Canada."
He has been truly remarkable, particularly in the last three games, which is why tonight is intriguing and unpredictable and I think the buildup for the excitement is justified and given, particularly the US audience an opportunity to see Connor McDavid this intensely I think is great for the sport, because, you know, he plays in Edmonton and playing there he doesn't get as much exposure in the US he does, for example, in Canada."
Bettman's comments, which overlooked McDavid's road game contributions, fell short of fans' expectations. Nonetheless, McDavid's extraordinary record speaks volumes, requiring no special validation from the league's top executive.
Tonight, Connor McDavid has the opportunity to further solidify his place in hockey history. A victory in Game 7 would not only secure his first Stanley Cup but also end Canada's 31-year championship drought.
As Read on MarkerZone - Gary Bettman rudely disrespects Connor McDavid in live interview
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24 JUIN | 1275 ANSWERS Gary Bettman disrespects Connor McDavid ahead of game 7 Should Gary Bettman publicly apologize to Connor McDavid? | ||
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