Field Level Media
03 Jun 2026, 23:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images)
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman turned 74 on Tuesday, but retirement is not on the immediate horizon.
Bettman said of his retirement and rumors this could be his last Stanley Cup Final, there is 'nothing happening imminently.'
Bettman spoke to the Sports Business Journal on Wednesday, one day after a report from Sportsnet said he is 'laying the groundwork for his eventual exit.'
Bettman, who has been the league's commissioner since Feb. 1, 1993, acknowledged that a succession plan has been discussed.
'Any major organization, it's incumbent upon its CEO -- which a commissioner is -- and its board to have a succession plan,' Bettman said. 'I am 74 and I do acknowledge the fact that I can't do this forever.
'We have been in discussions over the last couple of years at least as to what a succession plan might look like. It hasn't been fully implemented. The executive committee is fully on board. The board has been briefed in terms of the direction that we may go, but beyond that, there's nothing happening imminently.'
Speculation picked up as the NHL confirmed it would initiate a major reorganization of its business staff.
The restructuring reduced the number of direct reports to Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly from 14 to eight, while giving more responsibilities to president of NHL business Keith Wachtel and COO Steve McArdle.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Wisconsin Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Wisconsin Star.
More InformationGENEVA, Switzerland: Global health organization CEPI has committed roughly $60 million to accelerate the development of vaccines against...
BUDAPEST, Hungary: Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on June 1, after meeting President Tamas Sulyok, that if the president...
TEL AVIV, Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu is facing criticism at home after U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel would stop plans to...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: Iran has stopped indirect talks with the United States after Israel ordered its troops to move deeper into Lebanon to...
BEIJING/TAIPEI: China's Coast Guard said on June 1 that it carried out law enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan. This was...
TORONTO, Canada: Although relations between the U.S. and Canada have become strained under President Donald Trump, new data shows that...
(Photo credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images) The New York Mets optioned Jonah Tong to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled fellow right-hander...
(Photo credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images) NHL commissioner Gary Bettman turned 74 on Tuesday, but retirement is not on the immediate...
(Photo credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images) All of the talk about Deion Sanders leaving Colorado to coach the Dallas Cowboys was just...
(Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images) Top-ranked Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller will miss another...
(Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) Misdemeanor obstruction charges against Atlanta Falcons rookie receiver Zachariah Branch have...
(Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images) The season-opening football game between North Carolina State and Virginia will no longer...
