from Adam Proteau of The Hockey News,

I’ve been writing about NHL hockey for nearly 25 years now. I’ve been writing articles about NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for just about that long. I’ve even been accused of having a vendetta against the man, which I don’t, of course. I’ve just tried to hold his feet to the fire and ask him to be accountable because his primary role is to represent the league, good or bad.

So, in this latest, brutal, public misstep by the NHL – the Kyle Beach/sex assault fiasco in Chicago, I mean – there has been an uptick in calls for Bettman to step down after some 28 years in his role. I don’t expect that, though. I expect that Bettman’s real bosses – the 32 owners of the league who pay his salary – are willing to let him take all the bullets and remain a human safety shield from the outcries of media and fans.

I give credit to Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman, who made some strong statements when facing media last week. Chipman needs to walk the walk after talking the talk, but this is a meaningful statement that fans and media can return to if Chipman’s deeds don’t follow his words.

The same goes for the 31 other NHL team owners. They can choose to let Bettman continue to take the flak for it, but it would behoove them to step up individually and assert themselves as an honest-to-goodness supporter of abuse victims’ rights. That’s for starters. They also need to figure out a way to contribute to hockey’s grassroots and prevent any predators from damaging the lives of more young fans of the sport. Hockey’s insular culture has to change, and real change starts from the top, but immediately following that, it’s the bottom and most vulnerable that needs help.

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