The NHL began to prepare for Gary Bettman retired as a commissioner. He has participated in this role since 1993. (Photo by Chris Tanouye / Freestyle photography / Getty Images)
(Chris Tanouye / Freestyle Photo via Getty Images)
The NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is preparing to retire in “a few years”, according to a team owner, and the League is finding a successor.
The owner of Minnesota Wild, Craig Leipold, revealed development during an interview with the podcast when he asked the current state of the NHL, although Bettman made no official announcement of his plans.
“The fact that Gary will retire, you know is a worrying factor,” said Leipoid on “The sick podcast“With Pierre McGuire and Jimmy Murphy.” We have many of us who know how much Gary has been as a commissioner in this league, and what he has done for all the teams and the players. It will be a sad day when he will not be part.
“But you know, it's a few years from the road and we are planning now. We must make sure that we are well when he leaves. Right now, it's the only thing on the horizon.”
Bettman, 72, has been the NHL commissioner since February 1993. His mandate is the longest in the history of the League, exceeding Clarence Campbell, who was commissioner for 31 years from 1946 to 1977.
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Previously, Bettman spent 12 years in the front office of the NBA, ended up making his way to the lawyer general of the League and main vice-president. During its mandate, the NBA implemented the salary capital system which continues to be in place now.
He did not decided the exact calendar of his retirement, but raised the possibility of the NHL Executive Committee (of which Leipold is a member) at a meeting of the Council of Governors of the League in Florida, Athletics has reported.
“I raised the spectrum that at one point, it is something that the league will face because when you are dealing with a CEO that has been doing it for as long as I am, it is a more complicated process,” said Bettman, via athletics. “But the only discussion that took place was with more than three decades in this work, at some point, the league will have to face the reality that I cannot do this forever.”
During its 32 years as a NHL commissioner, the league increased from 24 teams to 32 and transferred the league to the hot and west of the United States, notably Dallas, Nashville and Las Vegas regions.
“The good news is that I have energy and I have a passion. I love what I do and in fact I like to do what I probably do more than ever that I would not want retirement.”
