Bettman has met his match with new union chief
One thing is certain. The days of cloaked whispers and giggly-girlfriend conversations with the NHLPA ringleader are a thing of the past for Gary Bettman.
With Boston lawyer Paul Kelly poised to be named the NHLPA's top dog, you may want to take the under if you decide to empty your piggy bank with a wager on how long Bettman stays in his Manhattan office.
This time around, he won't have a willing dance partner to bat eyelashes with. Instead, Bettman has to deal with an adversary who would like nothing more than take him out behind the woodshed and slap him silly.
Kelly is a no-nonsense gunslinger who, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, could be looking to administer a little frontier justice and make a quick impression with his bosses. Bettman would be his first target.
When ex-union chief Ted Saskin and Bettman were tittering like a couple of schoolgirls in ill-advised email exchanges, they had no way of knowing their reckless flirting would cost one his job and set the table for the overthrow of the other.
Kelly has an agenda and, in the worst possible news for Bettman, he has Chris Chelios on his side. Chelios doesn't have a whole lot of love for Bettman and wanted nothing more than to hand-pick the guy who could send him packing.
This is nothing short of a coup.
As Jim Kelley pointed out, the days of kid gloves and pleasantries between the PA and league are over. No matter how much fluff Bettman wants to spit out regarding the state of the game, plenty of players hold a post-lockout grudge. Chelios and his pals would welcome a chance to stamp the walking papers of Bettman and his personal puppet, Bill Daly.
It wouldn't be a stretch to say both are on borrowed time.
Paul Kelly took down Alan Eagleson. He may not even break a sweat ousting Bettman.
The only lingering question is how long the PA holds Kelly back before letting him off his chain.