Gary Bettman, NHL's commissioner, faces criticism due to media rights challenges. Player agent Allan Walsh highlighted that the league's 7-year deal with ESPN coincided with a decline in ESPN's subscribers from 80 million to 45 million. Disney seeks a "strategic partner" for ESPN. This suggests potential viewer losses during Bettman's tenure.
The NHL also grapples with Bally Sports' bankruptcy announcement, impacting 12 NHL teams and $55 million in media rights. These developments raise concerns about the league's financial stability and salary cap implications.