Gary Bettman addresses retirement report: Nothing imminent

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