NHL Commissioner Comments on Florida Hockey Tax Debate

During a recent broadcast, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman dismissed former player Paul Bissonette’s concerns regarding the advantages Florida hockey teams might have due to the lack of state income tax.

Bissonette, who transitioned from playing in the NHL and minor leagues to a media career, had previously raised this issue after the Panthers defeated the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals.

His comments drew immediate pushback from fellow analyst Anson Carter.

Bettman, addressing Bissonette’s remarks, found them “silly.” He mentioned, “I was watching you during my previous rounds. Your outfit was a bit questionable in terms of your journalistic objectivity,” in a somewhat playful tone.

Reflecting on Florida teams’ historical performance, Bettman said, “It was about 17 years when Florida’s team wasn’t good, but OK, no one said anything about it.” He pointed out that players often consider various factors when choosing where to play, like organizational culture and where they want to raise their families.

He also questioned whether the tax situation would be a deciding factor if all other aspects were equal, but he clarified that it’s not that straightforward.

It seemed Bettman’s comments were aimed at adding humor to the discussion, but they stirred quite a conversation on social media. Bissonette further commented, “Talking to people. Look at their engagement. Throw a Gary softball,” on his platform.