mtsu alum the next nhl comish?

That's right. Apparently MTSU alum (my alma mater) Eddie Gossage is the short list for the NHL commisioners job when Gary Bettman's contract expires after the 07-08 season.

I'm not a 100% Bettman basher the way some are - i think the new collective bargaining agreement and new rules, etc have been great for the sport. However, under Bettman's watch there have been 2 lockouts, one season lost all together, and the league has all but disappeared from the national radar in the US. Attendance is up, showing that hardcore fans in NHL cities are supporting the sport, but TV, radio, and other coverage around the rest of the US is paltry at best. I definitely think he needs to go and conventional wisdom is that the league owners agree.

At this point, no official inquiries have been made. Gossage is denying that he is going anywhere or that he has officially talked to anyone with the NHL. He has said he is commited to heading the Texas Motor Speedway as he has sucessfully done for a few years now. But he is a known hockey fan (gotta figure he's a Preds fan right?) and is apparently frequently courted by other sports entities for his marketing prowess.