Gary Bettman and NHL Deputy Chief Bill Daly answered questions for the first time since former Chicago player Kyle Beach went out and told about the sexual abuse he suffered in 2010.
And how everything was silenced internally by the Chicago Blackhawks.
The digital press conference became more like a defense speech.
Something that Bettman gets criticized for by Canadian Sportsnet who writes, "wrong tone and wrong focus".
New York Post longtime hockey reporter Larry Brooks wrote on Twitter: "Powerful men defending their power."
Did not know anything
Bettman was asked if the NHL could have done something different.
- I'm not sure we could have done anything different or faster based on what we knew then.
With the results in hand, I wish we knew about this in 2011, but we did not, he says.
Since Chicago's independent investigation became known and Kyle Beach appeared in an interview with TSN, Chicago has been fined by the NHL with two million dollars, Florida coach Joel Quenneville, then in Chicago, resigned, but Kevin Cheveldayoff, then assistant general manager but now in Winnipeg, friats.
Prior to that, Chicago general manager Stan Bowman had resigned.
"Better than ever"
The NHL is now being criticized for punishing violations of salary caps and talent rules more harshly than sexual abuse.
But Bettman rejects that criticism:
- Our sport today is probably a better place than it has ever been.
Bettman has talked to Kyle Beach about what the league can do to better protect its players and has also offered him and his family advice.
The NHLPA is considering setting up an independent investigation into the Kyle Beach case.
Trade Union President Donald Fehr was pointed out in the Chicago investigation as having been contacted on two occasions about the abuse, but told investigators that he could not recall it.
However, he has acknowledged that "the system betrayed Kyle Beach and we are part of it".