NHL Owners Split on Process for Replacing Gary Bettman
Some NHL owners wanted a formal search rather than a direct promotion of deputy commissioner Bill Daly, according to Elliotte Friedman. Those owners reportedly do not oppose Daly but prefer an open process. The report also suggests a Texas expansion vote may no longer be guaranteed.
Bill Daly has worked in the NHL’s league office since 1996 and has served as deputy commissioner since 2005. Commissioner Gary Bettman, who will turn 75 next June and is entering his 34th season, has said he loves the job but acknowledged he must eventually step aside. The league has reportedly discussed succession planning for at least two years.
Ownership leadership also changed recently: Washington’s Ted Leonsis was unanimously chosen as Board of Governors chairman, succeeding Boston’s Jeremy Jacobs after 19 years, with Calgary’s Murray Edwards as vice-chair. A Texas expansion vote, once expected at December’s Florida governors meeting, now appears less certain amid questions about Houston versus Austin.
The outcome may shape NHL fans, players, and prospective host cities. A more open succession process could influence how leagues balance continuity and accountability, while uncertainty over Texas expansion may affect Houston or Austin business communities and media-rights planning. These are governance decisions, but their ripple effects could reach ticket buyers, local economies, and the league’s national visibility.