Gary Bettman: Connor McDavid has the potential to be the best ever! 🏒 | First Take

Gary Bettman: Connor McDavid has the potential to be the best ever! 🏒 | First Take
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman joins First Take to discuss the Boston Bruins' historic season and Connor McDavid's greatness.
#ESPN #NHL #FirstTake
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[@Monaayy29]

Gary Bettman and Stephen A Smith in the same room together is something I never thought I’d see.

[@Zenigundam]

It's a shame that ESPN never though to revive NHL2Night. I used to watch it all the time when it was on the Deuce back in the day when there was nothing else on.

[@koola998]

Heuuu why

[@PoohShimmy]

A WHOLE hockey segment on First Take. Is this the twilight zone???

[@Patsox]

It has to be a contractual obligation because the playoffs are on ESPN. There's no other explanation.

[@theonlygus]

@@Patsoxactually 100% true. SAS couldn’t care less about hockey he’s doing this segment for the $

[@thanos2588]

The man that dismissed the Rangers as a major sports team is now talking to the commissioner like he’s a fan. Stephen A Clown

[@juanthadon86]

That’s what’s trippin me out, like they ain’t speak on this a few weeks ago. Now all of a sudden, an influx of hockey segments 😂😂

[@YourJamaicanChief]

The devils are better

[@Bang0ut824]

Probably a contractual obligation

[@lgrw9883]

@@YourJamaicanChief aged well lol

[@johnnyarana1876]

Exactly I was wondering anybody in these comments remember that😤😤😤😤

[@haydennyagah706]

ESPN needs to spend more time on hockey outside of the playoffs. Nobody wants to admit it but McDavid is the best player in all 4 major sports, dude is just that good.

[@SLSMe]

Gotta win for that honor bud

[@RoyMunson]

@@SLSMe Why? Winning is a team thing, it is obvious that he is the best individual player as far as stats & skill.

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

I think Ohtani would be (dude's doing stuff that hasn't been done in literally a century) but McDavid is a close second lol

[@scruffd0g193]

Not so sure about that, Mahomes, Ohtani, are right their.

[@isaiahjones4557]

Ohtani

[@zigfield723]

I have a a feeling we are about to witness an even higher level from McDavid. That tough loss last night yet they absolutely outplayed the Kings, his inner fire will be burning as hot as the sun. Let's go Oilers!!

[@CashewTheNuttyFinesser]

Here fighting a flu

[@simplyactive8324]

About time Espn realizes the Stanley cup playoffs are happening

[@caper087]

NHL needs to be on first take more often… especially with the playoffs it’s so compelling!!

[@denistuohy2535]

Omg NHL, on First Take? I must be dreaming!

[@tristanpillar3849]

oh my god, hockey on First Take....this is insane. I thought I was still asleep when I saw this. Hopefully more to come in the future.............

[@TrainAndTrade]

Hockey is on the rise. Yall need to get on it

[@marckusduverger9776]

I really should try to get into Hockey more, it can be excited. I don’t think I’ve watched it for an extended period of time, the playoffs do look exciting though

[@insertlastname]

Playoffs need to go back to 1-8

[@claude878878]

and about 40 yrs ago, it was even better than that. It was 1 vs 16, 2 vs 15, 3 vs 14... etc.. this way, anyone can meet anyone in the SC Final.. u can have a NYR/BOS sc final or a TOR/BOS too. Not like 1 vs 8 or like today's format.

[@manzac112]

I actually loved the 1-4 Divisional Style Playoffs because of the rivalry aspect of it.

[@maxhypolite5388]

The spectrum is different for every sport. The moment Basketball is not about stats such as points per game and more about team success it will be at the top. Hockey is a team sport. The objective is team success. All the NBA focuses on is individual success, on and off the court. Player brand rather than league brand.

[@bencarter8423]

When Stephen A mentioned liking the "big dog team", I would have mentioned that the NHL had that back in the day. They were called the Montreal Canadians.

[@ryanamyx5112]

You know stephen a knows nothing about hockey when he actually interviews his guest instead of screaming nonsense into his mic for 10 minutes

[@ryancoleman4120]

Wild!

[@souls4borne]

Why not ask him the important question of making the nhl playoffs 1 vs 8 seed format instead of this unfair format which is ruining the game.

[@happybeingmiserable4668]

The 1st seed does face the 8th and the other Division winner faces the 7th....it is the others that get screwed.

[@anthonyscrima8900]

I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s “ruining the game.” It’s just flawed. The first round is set up ok but I agree it shouldn’t be divided by division and should just be how the nba is set up.

[@pomerlain8924]

It's not ruining the game, but it is ruining the quality of match-ups in the later rounds. As it is now, there's no benefit to having the second or third best record in the conference, when you finish second in your division.

[@zh_69]

hard to believe it but I think I like Gary more after this interview

[@anthonyscrima8900]

He deserves alot more credit then he gets for the expansion of the league. No one woudlve ever thought 30 years ago that hockey would be so big in states like California, Florida, tennesse, Texas, Nevada, Washington, and so many more. Back then if you didn’t live in Canada, the northeast, or Minnesota chances are you didn’t care. Now all the teams are profitable and “non hockey markets” are thriving and he deserves a lot of credit for the way he’s marketed the league.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

@@anthonyscrima8900 all this expansion has been a failure. he did this to bring big US TV deals and it never happened and never will

[@habappy]

No sport has benefitted more from Hi-Def Big Screen TV than hockey. Add in that USA hockey has steadily risen since the Miracle on Ice so that today it is indisputably the #2 international power (coming for you Canada!), and the future of the NHL is bright.

[@yengvang8737]

NHL playoffs are something special. You can't hate on that.

[@Tokainumber1]

Yaaaa first take covering hockey rules

[@liamnelson6573]

More hockey segment please

[@mikemelino5553]

The 1st time. That's Steven a Smith. Never interrupted The other person speaking. He actually listened

[@acidbatharchive]

Mcdavid Ohtani Mahomes Giannis Best players in each 4 main sports… mcdavid and Ohtani have the biggest gaps between the 2nd best players in their sports

[@jamirbingham4101]

Lol I’d take judge over ohtani any day

[@RoyMunson]

@@jamirbingham4101 Have you ever touched a baseball?

[@acidbatharchive]

@@jamirbingham4101 Ohtani does just as much offensively but makes up for it major with his pitching

[@nugglife3035]

You're crazy. McOverrated hasn't won anything. MacKinnon and Makar are the best players in the world, and it's not really close at all.

[@julsc2106]

​@Nugglife 303 correct goooo nuggets

[@fredericopinto2943]

After Pastrnak and Boston win 3 cups we'll revisit this one

[@welcometwoidaho]

Can someone explain Connor McDavid in nba/nfl terms

[@lentzakimgermain3987]

he has not win anything yet, they keep talking about him as the goat but he never wins the Stanley Cup

[@ezzio8611]

He's basically LeBron/Brady on a skill level basis, but he hasn't won much in the Playoffs.

[@thanos2588]

Aaron Rodgers in his prime

[@PoohShimmy]

Lmfaooo

[@AyeCoby]

Basically he’s Luka Doncic or Nikola Jokic

[@notplaintext]

Connor McDavid is the best player to ever play hockey

[@arcadeshift5071]

Stephen A. and Molly look like they're seeing ghosts, having to try and muster up questions to get through a NHL segment. Hockey fans just feel bad that casual sports fans have no idea how entertaining the SC playoffs are.

[@gome8148]

GojetsGo

[@krakenhawkstratdude204]

Love seeing Stephen A and Molly eat crow after saying hockey doesn’t count.

[@allmightylowercasejay1138]

Sudden Death Overtime that's why people love Playoff Hockey

[@tjtaylor5273]

Dont NBA or NFL......... My Hockey

[@okallup8012]

Make hockey more affordable.

[@Jeremiah-3478]

Hockey is the best sport right now. Just wish they did a better job in marketing the big stars like McDavid. No way avalanche should have swept oilers and f stern was commissioner lol. David stern was a marketing genius. McDavid is the closest to MJ/ KB I’ve seen in my lifetime.

[@manzac112]

Here's the thing with hockey: This isn't basketball. If you can't run all 4 lines or if your goalie can't make the right saves at the right time, you are pretty much screwed.

[@manzac112]

And even if David Stern was there, Edmonton was not beating Colorado last year. That Avalanche team was a f*cking machine in 2021-22 and were easily the best team in the NHL.

[@bigchungus7050]

Hockey on American TV?

[@timothy4557]

You never been to Boston where its been on TV for 60 years.

[@berryscott3590]

McDavid... Better than Orr? Gretzky? Super Mario, Gordie Howe?... Sorry, but no... He'll likely wind up number 5 all time imo...

[@wrdswpns1139]

Mcdavid is the best but with no cups ...shame .

[@kenryu364]

Nice to see Gary keep Stephen A in check. I was ready for him to literally say he knows nothing about hockey except the puck is black blah blah. As his usual BS.

[@nugglife3035]

I don't think these guys actually watch hockey.

[@danielhuynh9368]

None of them do. Not even Gary cares that much.

[@jaytheactivist8520]

No he can’t lmaooo, I’m sorry. 99’s legacy is too great

[@justinlevine3936]

Molly and Stephen a are so fake

[@Aaronjosephhernandez]

Man how they hype up the hu- white athletes is unreal. Dude did not even score a goal yesterday 🤣🤣

[@smodiddley]

Um, no

[@frankthetank819]

Don’t consider mcdavid the best now or ever first off as he led his team to playoffs to a ring nope he just a highlight reel that’s it and that’s all he’ll be throughout his career as long as he stays in Edmonton that’s all he’ll be without a ring he won’t be the best simple

[@WW3_Soon]

He is the best ever, better than Wayne Gretzky!

[@bansnabs5523]

Get this heebroo out of the league,

[@julsc2106]

The best what?? At choking in thr playoffs

[@Pinto-tm1ss]

He plays no defense.. 150 points.. 22+… a joke..

[@shaquilleking904]

We do not care

[@RoyMunson]

YOU do not care, which is fine but you’re missing out on a great sport

[@claude878878]

this is not against u or anything, but u and i both know how much black ppl HATE hockey. it's very normal u dont like hockey. next time, if u ever watch a game, try to find one black guy in the crowd. You'll have a hard time.... Black ppl never really liked hockey in general. it's not for them. it's a very white sport. Nothing wrong with that.

[@lancetaylor2309]

Shocked they brought a white person on black take