The NHL's decision to award its jersey rights to Fanatics instead of Nike did not come as a surprise to those familiar with Gary Bettman's leadership. According to Ali Murji's report, Nike had decided against bidding for the opportunity, citing unfavourable profit margins.
While fans expressed their disappointment with the decision, it's worth noting that Nike already holds uniform rights for the NFL, NBA, MLB, and supplies uniforms to the top 25 IIHF teams.
Despite Nike's presence in the hockey industry, the company's decision not to do business with the NHL has cast a shadow on Gary Bettman's reputation as commissioner, which has already been criticized during his tenure.