Two sources with knowledge of Bettman’s thinking said he has floated a scenario in which he would pass the commissioner title to Daly and remain with the league in an executive chairman-type role for at least three to five years.
It remains to be seen whether ownership would get on board with such a plan, or if they would prefer a fresh face with more commercial experience. Whoever succeeds Bettman will need to find ways to increase the NHL’s media rights value and create more centralized, league-level revenue streams to reduce teams’ dependence on game-day income.
Here are a few names that could garner consideration for the role, listed alphabetically.
John Collins, operating partner, New York Islanders
Bill Daly, deputy commissioner, NHL
Sam Kennedy, CEO, Fenway Sports Group
Joe Leccese, chairman emeritus, Proskauer
Stephen McArdle, COO, NHL
Scott O’Neil, CEO, LIV Golf
Keith Pelley, president, CEO, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Hans Vestberg, former CEO, Verizon
17 comments
Ca manque de Francophones.
As in John Daly?? I’m all for it
Rags fans would love anyone connected with the Isles and I’m all here for it lol
Is anyone of these person who cares about the sport and ain’t an out of touch twat?
In case you’re wondering how some of these people are connected to hockey:
Lecesse is a lawyer with extensive experience in the sports world. He advises teams and leagues and has handled many team sales and purchases, including the expansion bids for the Golden Knights and Kraken.
O’Neill was an executive with MSG, the Rangers, and the Devils.
Vestberg has no direct hockey ties. He’s a former pro handball.plauer and head of the Swedish Handball Federation. He was the head of Sweden’s Olympic committee.
The Fact that Everyone Boos “Uncle Gary” means he did his job & done it well he has !
Daly is the ONLY proper choice, the rest suck for the Fans.
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Yeah let’s let the Liv guy take over the nhl…
Scott O’Neil.
Wonderful. All we need is the Saudis’s taking over more fucking sports.
Fuck Sam Kennedy, Fenway Sports Group, and everyone associated with it.
None of these guys
Put a hockey guy in there to handle the game, and a money guy to grow revenue. John Davidson to handle the game…one of these money men to be the CFO.
Jon Cooper for Commissioner!!
For some reason, I thought Bill Daly was already tapped for the job.
Also, the MLSE exec is an interesting choice.
The Isles have had quite a slate of recent controversial calls go our way.
Maybe our guy is already in 😂
Also I don’t want the Saudis garbage infecting us but it would absolutely solve the lack of marketing. If there’s one thing they are good at it’s marketing.
Can we get someone NOT affiliated with a specific team or terror organization?
Don Cherry
/s he’ll be dead shortly anyways.