NHL commish Gary Bettman breaks silence on controversial no-state-tax argument

Recently, there has been significant discussion about the absence of state income tax in certain NHL cities and whether it provides advantage to teams located there in attracting players.

For example, Florida, a state with no tax, has seen its teams reach the Stanley Cup Final in the past six years, with the Tampa Bay Lightning appearing from 2020 to 2022 and the Florida Panthers appearing in three consecutive Finals after the Bolts.

During a segment with the NHL on TNT crew, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was asked by Paul Bissonnette if the league would address this perceived imbalance. In response, Bettman dismissed the idea as "ridiculous," pointing out that when Florida's teams struggled for nearly 17 years, no one raised concerns about the tax situation.

"It’s a ridiculous issue. When the Florida teams weren’t good — which was for about 17 years — nobody said anything about it."

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Bettman further elaborated on the factors that attract players to specific cities. He highlighted that their attractions include a vibrant city environment, top-notch arena and training facilities and a strong front office, along with skilled coaches and teammates who collectively provide a genuine opportunity to compete for a championship.

Gary Bettman responds to Paul Bissonnette's request to move taxes away from Ontario to help Maple Leafs

During the discussion, Bissonnette also inquired if the NHL could eliminate taxes in Ontario to boost the Toronto Maple Leafs' chances of winning the Stanley Cup. In response, commissionner playfully remarked:

"I was watching you during the prior rounds. Your attire was a little suspect in terms of your journalistic objectivity."

Last week, while addressing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly downplayed concerns about the no-tax issue.

Daly acknowledged that some franchises had the issue as a concern. However, he expressed that the league doesn't share the same level of worry, noting that such imbalances have always existed and aren't a new phenomenon.

Also Read: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly shrugs off state-tax concerns in CBA negotiations

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta