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The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever
Book by Gatehouse, Jonathon
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
12 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Jonathon Gatehouse
2 books1 followerJonathon Gatehouse is a senior correspondent for Maclean’s magazine and was formerly a reporter for the National Post and Montreal’s Gazette. He lives in Toronto with his wife and children, plays hockey three times a week, and has a dog named Wendel.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 2, 2013
Gatehouse opens the floodgates to a better understanding of the NHL and its villainous commissioner in this aptly named and timed book. While the NHL is in the middle of its 3rd lockout/strike under Bettman's watch, the book both explains some of the background on the commissioner (some biographical and some employment-related) while putting some of the key issues at the forefront so that hockey fans and non-fans alike can better understand the League and its fearless leader. While some may say Gatehouse is skewing things one way or another, it is through his presentation of the facts that we see just how power-hungry and unethical Bettman has become, while trying to present himself as a professional hockey saviour of the past 20 years.
The book spends much time talking about Bettman, but should not be considered a true biography. It is, instead, an examination of the business of hockey and examines things through the lens of how Bettman brought the League to where it is today. Gatehouse pulls no punches in his presentation and explores things like American market preferential treatment of expansion, bailouts, advertising, and television coverage. Bettman is also referred, repeatedly, as the employee of the owners, which sums up his desire for greed to no end. While I refuse to endorse the players' stance in this pig-trough search for money, it is that search that fuels Bettman's control of the League. The mantra "the NHL is more about money than tradition" seeps through each page and is key to understanding how the League is only partially about putting players on the ice. As Bettman will regularly say, he knows what is best and continues to acknowledge only those who have no issue with his desire to ensure he and the League owners drown in greenbacks.
Acknowledging that Gatehouse in a Canadian, it was refreshing to see a large Canadian component in the book, including the demolition and re-emergence of the Winnipeg Jets; numerous blocks to bring more NHL to Canada; and a pathetic attempt to shove hockey down the throats of Americans who may have more interest in NASCAR vehicle cross a line than a puck. Canadian content and the role the League's teams north of the border play cannot be discounted and is best highlighted to get a true sense of the villain currently at the reins of power. Alas, there is no foreseeable end to his reign, though we need not sit by and take it. Let's hope he gets a good dose of reality, though sitting in his ivory tower, that is unlikely.
Kudos, Mr. Gatehouse. You present a great argument and sensational research to help better understand things as we sit around waiting for the millionaires and multi-millionaires to finish this pissing contest.
The book spends much time talking about Bettman, but should not be considered a true biography. It is, instead, an examination of the business of hockey and examines things through the lens of how Bettman brought the League to where it is today. Gatehouse pulls no punches in his presentation and explores things like American market preferential treatment of expansion, bailouts, advertising, and television coverage. Bettman is also referred, repeatedly, as the employee of the owners, which sums up his desire for greed to no end. While I refuse to endorse the players' stance in this pig-trough search for money, it is that search that fuels Bettman's control of the League. The mantra "the NHL is more about money than tradition" seeps through each page and is key to understanding how the League is only partially about putting players on the ice. As Bettman will regularly say, he knows what is best and continues to acknowledge only those who have no issue with his desire to ensure he and the League owners drown in greenbacks.
Acknowledging that Gatehouse in a Canadian, it was refreshing to see a large Canadian component in the book, including the demolition and re-emergence of the Winnipeg Jets; numerous blocks to bring more NHL to Canada; and a pathetic attempt to shove hockey down the throats of Americans who may have more interest in NASCAR vehicle cross a line than a puck. Canadian content and the role the League's teams north of the border play cannot be discounted and is best highlighted to get a true sense of the villain currently at the reins of power. Alas, there is no foreseeable end to his reign, though we need not sit by and take it. Let's hope he gets a good dose of reality, though sitting in his ivory tower, that is unlikely.
Kudos, Mr. Gatehouse. You present a great argument and sensational research to help better understand things as we sit around waiting for the millionaires and multi-millionaires to finish this pissing contest.
September 21, 2012
A Review
I don't watch the NHL. But now with no NHL to watch, The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the League and Changed the Game Forever is a timely examination of hockey and the man at the centre of the lockout, Gary Bettman. The Instigator is a fascinating window onto the dirty side of a sport that true fans don’t like to discuss – money – and the man in charge of the league’s finances. It explores Bettman’s thinking, explains why there’s a lockout, and candidly points to how it will probably end. Where Ken Dryden's The Game explains hockey’s soul, Maclean’s writer Jonathon Gatehouse's The Instigator examines its head.
Having picked up The Instigator out of a kind of morbid curiosity on the eve of the lockout, I read it in just two sittings. All I knew about Bettman was that he is disliked north of the border and was viciously parodied in Bon Cop, Bad Cop. The Instigator provides an insight into his mind at a time when fans probably want to know what he is thinking. It describes the NHL in the Age of Bettman and is balanced enough to infuriate fans who looked forward to a hatchet job on him. Gatehouse paints Bettman as essentially a numbers guy, which, I think, drives much of the animosity towards him. He’s not inherently evil – fans just don’t see him as comprehending the mythic status and tradition that hockey has in this country. With an academic background in Industrial Labour Relations, Bettman views hockey as a business and the NHLPA as the target for some good old-fashioned union busting. He comes across as a rational businessman who learns from his mistakes (he's unlikely to ever move another team away from Canada), but who just doesn't see the sense in ignoring the American market, especially when American hockey fans are among the biggest spenders in sport. Yes, emotion is a big part of sport (I look forward to the book that takes down FIFA’s Sepp Blatter), but someone has to watch the numbers that keep the arenas open in the long run. And that someone is inevitably going to annoy a lot of fans.
This is all a long way of saying that you don't have to be a hockey fan to enjoy The Instigator. Like Moneyball does for baseball, The Instigator explains the nuts and bolts of the business of hockey and describes how its financial needs repeatedly butt up against Canadian cultural expectations. Gatehouse had access to all the key figures and, from their competing stories, has written what will probably become a classic of sports reportage. It explains the ongoing disputes within the NHL and why the man at the centre of it all will remain a figure of frustration to many Canadian fans. But, then they should re-consider the title, since The Instigator picks his fights for a reason. Today, the NHL is on firm financial ground, in large part because of Gary Bettman, and history may eventually judge him as the man who saved hockey.
On Twitter: @Dr_A_Taubman
I don't watch the NHL. But now with no NHL to watch, The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the League and Changed the Game Forever is a timely examination of hockey and the man at the centre of the lockout, Gary Bettman. The Instigator is a fascinating window onto the dirty side of a sport that true fans don’t like to discuss – money – and the man in charge of the league’s finances. It explores Bettman’s thinking, explains why there’s a lockout, and candidly points to how it will probably end. Where Ken Dryden's The Game explains hockey’s soul, Maclean’s writer Jonathon Gatehouse's The Instigator examines its head.
Having picked up The Instigator out of a kind of morbid curiosity on the eve of the lockout, I read it in just two sittings. All I knew about Bettman was that he is disliked north of the border and was viciously parodied in Bon Cop, Bad Cop. The Instigator provides an insight into his mind at a time when fans probably want to know what he is thinking. It describes the NHL in the Age of Bettman and is balanced enough to infuriate fans who looked forward to a hatchet job on him. Gatehouse paints Bettman as essentially a numbers guy, which, I think, drives much of the animosity towards him. He’s not inherently evil – fans just don’t see him as comprehending the mythic status and tradition that hockey has in this country. With an academic background in Industrial Labour Relations, Bettman views hockey as a business and the NHLPA as the target for some good old-fashioned union busting. He comes across as a rational businessman who learns from his mistakes (he's unlikely to ever move another team away from Canada), but who just doesn't see the sense in ignoring the American market, especially when American hockey fans are among the biggest spenders in sport. Yes, emotion is a big part of sport (I look forward to the book that takes down FIFA’s Sepp Blatter), but someone has to watch the numbers that keep the arenas open in the long run. And that someone is inevitably going to annoy a lot of fans.
This is all a long way of saying that you don't have to be a hockey fan to enjoy The Instigator. Like Moneyball does for baseball, The Instigator explains the nuts and bolts of the business of hockey and describes how its financial needs repeatedly butt up against Canadian cultural expectations. Gatehouse had access to all the key figures and, from their competing stories, has written what will probably become a classic of sports reportage. It explains the ongoing disputes within the NHL and why the man at the centre of it all will remain a figure of frustration to many Canadian fans. But, then they should re-consider the title, since The Instigator picks his fights for a reason. Today, the NHL is on firm financial ground, in large part because of Gary Bettman, and history may eventually judge him as the man who saved hockey.
On Twitter: @Dr_A_Taubman
December 30, 2012
It seems people either love him or hate him. And with the NHL lockout heading past the ninety-day mark and into the Christmas holidays, I thought it was time to look at the biography of Gary Bettman, the man who began this latest war between professional hockey players and team owners with the third lockout in league history.
The book, entitled The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the League and Changed the Game Forever, is informative and offers a good deal of insight into the figure—hero to some, villain to others—who is firmly in control of the National Hockey League.
Author Jonathon Gatehouse begins with a glimpse into Bettman’s life and lifestyle with brief looks at his rather humble beginnings, his introduction to the management side of professional sports within the National Basketball Association, and then his ascension to the number one position in the offices of the NHL.
The chapters that follow examine the twenty-year-and-counting Bettman era within the context of several topics, from the state of the game when he first came aboard, to the departure of the Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques and the league’s expansion to the southern United States, and finally to the analysis of the conditions that have led to the current labour standoff. Not having a deep understanding of the business of hockey, I found this latter part very insightful and also somewhat prophetic—or at least very helpful in explaining why a business that last year made over three billion dollars in revenue seems bent on forgoing all of it because the parties involved can’t come to a sensible financial compromise. The portrait that Gatehouse paints of Bettman is of a man who has an ‘A-type’ personality, is meticulous to the point of obsession, and one who never forgets a slight—characteristics that do not necessarily go hand in hand with compromise. Donald Fehr garners a small section of coverage toward the end of the book as well. From Gatehouse’s descriptions, the leader of the NHLPA is at least as committed and goal-driven as the commissioner, if not even more so, and has a similarly supersized ego. Again, not a good mix for smooth or collegial negotiations.
If you’re interested in the more recent history of the NHL, in the politics of sport, or in simply reading about some interesting and influential people, The Instigator will not disappoint. And, if you’re a fan of the NHL, it’s not like you don’t have time now to sit down and read a good book, anyway.
The book, entitled The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the League and Changed the Game Forever, is informative and offers a good deal of insight into the figure—hero to some, villain to others—who is firmly in control of the National Hockey League.
Author Jonathon Gatehouse begins with a glimpse into Bettman’s life and lifestyle with brief looks at his rather humble beginnings, his introduction to the management side of professional sports within the National Basketball Association, and then his ascension to the number one position in the offices of the NHL.
The chapters that follow examine the twenty-year-and-counting Bettman era within the context of several topics, from the state of the game when he first came aboard, to the departure of the Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques and the league’s expansion to the southern United States, and finally to the analysis of the conditions that have led to the current labour standoff. Not having a deep understanding of the business of hockey, I found this latter part very insightful and also somewhat prophetic—or at least very helpful in explaining why a business that last year made over three billion dollars in revenue seems bent on forgoing all of it because the parties involved can’t come to a sensible financial compromise. The portrait that Gatehouse paints of Bettman is of a man who has an ‘A-type’ personality, is meticulous to the point of obsession, and one who never forgets a slight—characteristics that do not necessarily go hand in hand with compromise. Donald Fehr garners a small section of coverage toward the end of the book as well. From Gatehouse’s descriptions, the leader of the NHLPA is at least as committed and goal-driven as the commissioner, if not even more so, and has a similarly supersized ego. Again, not a good mix for smooth or collegial negotiations.
If you’re interested in the more recent history of the NHL, in the politics of sport, or in simply reading about some interesting and influential people, The Instigator will not disappoint. And, if you’re a fan of the NHL, it’s not like you don’t have time now to sit down and read a good book, anyway.
April 8, 2013
Gary Bettman has often been described as the most reviled man in Canada. After reading this even-handed biography, I have to admit, I no longer revile him. I now kinda admire him.
This was a very readable book, with lots of information about specific teams (the Phoenix Coyote and return of the Winnipeg Jets, stories that matter to me, are well covered). The business behind the NHL was interesting and easy to understand for a non-business person like me.
I recommended this book to my husband, who is also enjoying it.
This was a very readable book, with lots of information about specific teams (the Phoenix Coyote and return of the Winnipeg Jets, stories that matter to me, are well covered). The business behind the NHL was interesting and easy to understand for a non-business person like me.
I recommended this book to my husband, who is also enjoying it.
November 27, 2012
An intriguing read about the man hockey fans seem to hate. Reading more about him will help you better understand him, but you may still curse while reading it.
December 3, 2012
A fair and balanced look at the reign of the NHL commissioner, as well as a comprehensive look at the league's finances.
September 30, 2012
very interesting, surprising at times and i don't hate the guy as much anymore
May 14, 2018
ever hear about the NHL doing something and thought "How does the comissioner still have a job?" this book explains why.
September 17, 2019
Even after reading this well researched and written book, I hate this man.
May 6, 2020
I love the behind the scenes stories of professional sports and this book delivers that for hockey fans.
July 4, 2021
Very good book. Learned a lot
July 24, 2022
I enjoyed the read. Bettman 's journey from a newbie to Mr. Powerful. good stuff
December 1, 2021
I picked this book up after hearing author, Jonathon Gatehouse interviewed on CBC Radio One a few weeks ago and also because of my relative lack of knowledge about the history of Canada's national past-time (not national sport, that's actually lacrosse!) and my lack of a cultural connection to it.
Overall, I thought the book was great but its title slightly misleading. Other than the early part of the book and the very end of it, The Instigator read more like a history of the business side of the NHL than being specifically a biography about Gary Bettman. Given that Gatehouse's premise was how Bettman has remade the league to his personal vision during his two decade tenure as league commissioner despite his lack of connection to the sport as a player or otherwise (he's an NBA guy), this was was not unexpected and maybe a welcome approach for a neophyte like me.
I was lost in some of the more arcane ares of discussion like the league's revenue sharing formulas and the particulars of how their salary cap works (not sure if it was because it was too complicated or not described in enough detail to be honest?), but overall this was an interesting and easy read especially, as I mentioned, for someone with only a passing knowledge of the league's history. Whether those more steeped in hockey sports and business lore will be as enthralled is up for debate although my semi-uninformed hunch is, probably. Recommended.
Overall, I thought the book was great but its title slightly misleading. Other than the early part of the book and the very end of it, The Instigator read more like a history of the business side of the NHL than being specifically a biography about Gary Bettman. Given that Gatehouse's premise was how Bettman has remade the league to his personal vision during his two decade tenure as league commissioner despite his lack of connection to the sport as a player or otherwise (he's an NBA guy), this was was not unexpected and maybe a welcome approach for a neophyte like me.
I was lost in some of the more arcane ares of discussion like the league's revenue sharing formulas and the particulars of how their salary cap works (not sure if it was because it was too complicated or not described in enough detail to be honest?), but overall this was an interesting and easy read especially, as I mentioned, for someone with only a passing knowledge of the league's history. Whether those more steeped in hockey sports and business lore will be as enthralled is up for debate although my semi-uninformed hunch is, probably. Recommended.
November 13, 2020
The book looks at the role Gary Bettman has played in the NHL since becoming commissioner in 1993. However the majority of the book focuses on the more recent events, that is post-2005, and hardly touches on the earlier years of Bettman's time. As the book was also published right before the 2012-13 lockout, it misses on some major events there, and while that can be excused, the author alludes to the expiring CBA that led to the lockout, and it may have been prudent for him to wait a few months for that to resolve and add it to the book.
In terms of substance, there is little in here that anyone who has any passing understanding of the business of hockey doesn't already know. Unsurprisingly it does slant a bit against Bettman at times, though does stay more factual and neutral than other works on him. The recentism in the book is a little obvious reading it several years after the fact, and a more comprehensive look at things would have really given better context, especially showing how Bettman developed in wake of the 1994-95 lockout.
In terms of substance, there is little in here that anyone who has any passing understanding of the business of hockey doesn't already know. Unsurprisingly it does slant a bit against Bettman at times, though does stay more factual and neutral than other works on him. The recentism in the book is a little obvious reading it several years after the fact, and a more comprehensive look at things would have really given better context, especially showing how Bettman developed in wake of the 1994-95 lockout.
September 27, 2013
I have booed Gary Bettman and would do so again. I'm not alone. As a former fan, I don't like what the league did to the Blues in the 90's and I don't like what Gary Bettman did to the sport during his (ongoing) tenure.
The author presents what seems to be a pretty complete and fair picture of Bettman and the league. Sometimes he can be viewed as a good guy, sometimes as a bad guy. The book really helped me understand the league dynamics both before and after Bettman arrived. Agree with his vision or not, he certainly has transformed the NHL and put it seemingly on solid footing for the future, although not without making enemies along the way.
Now, I see Bettman in a different light. I still don't like him, but I think I understand what he was trying to accomplish. He deserves credit for that.
I really liked all the detail Gatehouse put in the book about the league history. I remember many of the events and it was fun to read about them again.
The biggest thing I didn't like was that the book was completed prior to the 2012 lock-out, and so no analysis could be provided of that. Not the book's fault, but disappointing nonetheless.
The author presents what seems to be a pretty complete and fair picture of Bettman and the league. Sometimes he can be viewed as a good guy, sometimes as a bad guy. The book really helped me understand the league dynamics both before and after Bettman arrived. Agree with his vision or not, he certainly has transformed the NHL and put it seemingly on solid footing for the future, although not without making enemies along the way.
Now, I see Bettman in a different light. I still don't like him, but I think I understand what he was trying to accomplish. He deserves credit for that.
I really liked all the detail Gatehouse put in the book about the league history. I remember many of the events and it was fun to read about them again.
The biggest thing I didn't like was that the book was completed prior to the 2012 lock-out, and so no analysis could be provided of that. Not the book's fault, but disappointing nonetheless.
January 23, 2016
Jonathon Gatehouse's “The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the NHL and Changed the Game Forever” is a strange hybrid of a book. Not truly a biography, not quite a sports book, and not really a business book, it combines those different non-fiction genres into an informative, easy-to-read book.
The author of this book realizes that in order to understand the game of professional hockey as it exists today, you must understand where it was before the current commissioner took over. In order to understand how Gary Bettman pushed through the things he wanted done, you must understand the man's personality and history. And in order to comprehend the difficulty of doing so, you must understand the former and current structure of NHL ownership, as well as the personalities who did and do make up that exclusive circle. Mr. Gatehouse accomplishes these goals in a book that cannot be “just one type” in order to do its job.
Highly recommended for hockey fans, both the ones who are enjoying the game played today and the ones who lament for “the good old days”.
RATING: 5 stars.
The author of this book realizes that in order to understand the game of professional hockey as it exists today, you must understand where it was before the current commissioner took over. In order to understand how Gary Bettman pushed through the things he wanted done, you must understand the man's personality and history. And in order to comprehend the difficulty of doing so, you must understand the former and current structure of NHL ownership, as well as the personalities who did and do make up that exclusive circle. Mr. Gatehouse accomplishes these goals in a book that cannot be “just one type” in order to do its job.
Highly recommended for hockey fans, both the ones who are enjoying the game played today and the ones who lament for “the good old days”.
RATING: 5 stars.
January 6, 2014
Overall, this was an interesting, entertaining look at Bettman's tenure as NHL commissioner, particularly for a person like me who is just now beginning to follow hockey.
If I have a gripe with it, it's that the sections about business deals with sponsors and labor (or labour) negotiations drag on quite a bit. I understand that those are big parts of Bettman's job, but they don't always make for compelling stories.
I expected to come away from this book feeling more sympathetic toward Bettman and what he does, but that wasn't the case at all. In the book he comes off as a shrewd, smart, egotistical, cunning businessman who cares about the wellbeing of the sport, but will pull out all the stops to accomplish his goals. I'm not saying that's necessarily a bad thing for him to be and I'm not saying that Gatehouse should have tried to make him out to be something he isn't, but it's not really a unique take on his persona.
If I have a gripe with it, it's that the sections about business deals with sponsors and labor (or labour) negotiations drag on quite a bit. I understand that those are big parts of Bettman's job, but they don't always make for compelling stories.
I expected to come away from this book feeling more sympathetic toward Bettman and what he does, but that wasn't the case at all. In the book he comes off as a shrewd, smart, egotistical, cunning businessman who cares about the wellbeing of the sport, but will pull out all the stops to accomplish his goals. I'm not saying that's necessarily a bad thing for him to be and I'm not saying that Gatehouse should have tried to make him out to be something he isn't, but it's not really a unique take on his persona.
September 14, 2012
Anyone who liked Moneyball and who has been following the current labour negotiations between the NHL and the players' union will enjoy this look at the way Gary Bettman has completely reengineered the league. Fans have been hating Bettman for years, but The Instigator doesn't pander to that antipathy -- it takes the much more satisfying route of examining and explaining why the commissioner did what he did over the years. The result is that fans and readers will see how personal motivations and boardroom dynamics affect the game at ice-level. But it's not just a hockey book, just as Moneyball is not a baseball book. It's business and biography -- a smart, nuanced book about a smart, complicated guy.
January 25, 2013
As an NHL fan I enjoyed The Instigator for the look at Hockey History, however the business aspects dragged a little bit. This was more due to lacking personal interest in the world of business than any knock against the writer. I appreciated getting some perspective on the struggles that the NHL has had in the Southern States that is a little difficult to put into context while living in hockey mad Canada.
June 9, 2017
A must read for any hockey fan. In addition to a diligent profile of the man that shaped the NHL today, Gatehouse throws in a bunch of historical anecdotes that should please a hockey nerd. A simple, friendly writing style and the overlay of real league events lends perspective and some interesting notes to what could have been a courtroom record. Certainly makes you appreciate Bettman and thr way that the league has changed under his stewardship.
January 8, 2014
This is more a biography of the NHL under Gary Bettman’s watch than his own biography. It is a dry but interesting read into the big business that is sports. I was surprised to learn about the number of turnovers and changes in ownership, sponsorship, affiliations, and all sorts of wheeling and dealing that makes the big sport juggernaut go.
February 12, 2025
I was very impressed by this book and really enjoyed it. Gave a better understanding to who Bettman is and what his job entails. Certainly softened my opinion of the man at the time (though I've grown to dislike him again...). However it was a very good biography and I'd recommend it to any fan of the NHL.
October 18, 2012
Certainly glad I put my bias of Gary Bettman aside and gave this book a try. I would say that my bias has been softened as a result of reading The Instigator. If you are an NHL fan you should give this book a try. It will open your eyes wider and focus them harder on the game we love!
October 25, 2012
An excellent book on the business of the NHL. The subtitle is a little misleading - I had expected more of a biography of Bettman (but I think I enjoyed the book far more than I would have if it had been the straight bio).
November 3, 2012
Ok I admit it. I am a Bettman fan. How he manages to juggle all his constituents is extraordinary. His sales skills are noteworthy. I will predict this: however this current round finally settles, expect announcements to the effect that new franchises will be added in Canada. Enjoy the read.
August 16, 2016
After reading this book my opinion on Gary Bettman has changed. If you really want to learn about the NHL as a business then this is a book you should read. Superbly documented and researched it provides more than a glimpse into how the business of hockey works.
January 31, 2013
I understand the man a whole lot more! Worth the read.
February 25, 2014
Interesting, in-depth and informative. A bit heavy on the factuals at times, specifically regarding contracts, annual revenue, escrow and so on, but certainly worth a read if you follow the NHL.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews