Yeah Bettman is a douche bag. He started as commisioner of the league when the NHL was at its best and had its most recognition. Since then he has brought it down. He had an opportunity to make the rinks bigger before all these new rinks got built, to support the larger and faster players.
He got rid of all the classic conferences and divisions. I remember The Wales and Cambell confernce, or the Norris,adams, Patrick and smythe divisions.
Prematurely expanded teams to ****ty markets, that have done nothing to help grow hockey, only to see teams with no attendance. Meanwhile watching his bread and butter market lose teams, cause the couldn't compete with the US dollar.
Having 2 lockouts on his watch, even though the last one was needed and resolved a lot of issues.
Hockey had such a potential to be as big as baseball back when he took over, but he failed to take advantage of this awesome sport, and road the coat tails while he could.
As for the current rule changes, yes they are quite rediculous and over the top with some of the stick work calls, but this is a process. They will find an even ground somewhere (I hope)
The hitting, although I love to see some badass checks, Players have no respect for each other now a days, head hunting and knee-on-knee. That needs to be taken out of the Game.
Finally yes Fighting is a part of the game.
Oh and finally screw Don cherry, he is as useless as Gary Bettman