All of South Florida tonight! Congrats @FlaPanthers! đ pic.twitter.com/8W4mf9fD6N
– Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 13, 2023
Panthers-Hurricanes conference final: Gary Bettman reaps what he sows
Auteur: Manuel Sperandio-Lemay![Panthers-Hurricanes conference final: Gary Bettman reaps what he sows](https://cdn.buminteractif.com/2023/05/Photo-Gary-Bettman.jpg)
Last night’s Panthers victory over the Maple Leafs propelled Florida into the Stanley Cup semi-finals, and thus into the Eastern Conference Final.
It’s the second time in the history of the Florida Panthers that the team has won two series and reached the final four of the NHL playoffs.
After 1996, things didn’t go so well for the Panthers, who missed the playoffs 18 times in 21 years, without winning a single playoff series.
So it’s quite a feat for the Panthers to reach the Final Four this year.
THE STAGE IS SET đ€ pic.twitter.com/9733vwZZWt
– Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 13, 2023
It’s safe to say that these aren’t two big field hockey markets facing off in the semi-finals.
It really wasn’t that long ago that the Hurricanes were the subject of rumors of a potential sale and move.
However, the years of misery have come to an end, and the team has become an NHL powerhouse as we’ve seen in recent years.
But the fact remains that Carolina isn’t Toronto, New York or Montreal.
So this is an Eastern Conference Final that clearly won’t generate much revenue or viewership.
Indeed, it’s a duel that was much less coveted than a Rangers – Leafs series, for example.
Panthers vs Hurricanes ECF pic.twitter.com/XpdhqDcIMn
– mai đâ⏠(@iluvpanera14) May 13, 2023
He’s always tried to keep small field hockey markets alive in an attempt to grow field hockey in these regions, but it doesn’t work.
Well, now Bettman finds himself with a conference final between two small markets in the southern U.S. that won’t generate much revenue.
It’s a small victory for Bettman, but also a defeat for the NHL.
TV ratings won’t be as good as in the past, that’s for sure.
Without Canada and without the Eastern and Northern U.S., we’re likely to be treated to a duel that will make the whole field hockey world indifferent.
They’re both good field hockey teams, but they’re not traditional markets, and that’s what’s going to hurt the NHL.
In a gust
– The Miami Heat congratulate the Florida Panthers.
– Indeed, this is the beginning of the end.
This is the beginning of the end for the Leafs as we know them: https://t.co/8FjYz4geoa
– Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) May 13, 2023
– To be continued.
The Maple Leafs are out of the playoffs and the Penguins GM search just got really interesting. #LetsGoPenshttps://t.co/v0jUrxYpIa
– Inside the Penguins (@InsidePenguins) May 13, 2023
– Read more.
New, for @NorthStarBet: Why the Auston Matthews extension looms above everything else as the #leafs enter a critical off-season. https://t.co/6i38fqQuSp
– Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 13, 2023
– A big rivalry match for the 30th anniversary.
And to find out more about the book “De l’Impact au CF MontrĂ©al, 30 ans d’histoire en 30 moments marquants”, go here đ https://t.co/Yw4rSJK2Y8
– Vincent Destouches (@100_Soccer) May 13, 2023