from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

There is clearly growing pressure on Mr. Bettman, a man we've known for most of his 19 years as NHL commissioner. We've never seen him so stressed, his eyelids so close together, his glare not challenging the questioner (as is his won’t), but instead looking downward as he speaks, as if trying to stay on message and avoiding distraction.

Hey, let's face it: It's a stressful gig, when you've screwed up the business as badly as Bettman has, agreeing to a succession of CBA extensions with former union head Bob Goodenow, while salary escalation eroded the owners' position to the point where Bettman finally had to tell his bosses, "Er, uh, guys? Turns out the players are taking home 75% of the pie."

Then, after convincing his bosses to scrap an entire season, and getting the salary cap and "cost certainty" that Bettman promised would right the NHL's ship, we're back here again.

"Um, ya, sorry about that fellas. We thought that last CBA was airtight. But, heh heh, turns out the cap moved from $39 to $70 million."

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