NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is 74 years old, and there are rumblings that he might be looking to retire. Elliotte Friedman suggested that Bettman wants to expand the league to 34 teams and then ride off into the sunset.
If that is truly the case, then the NHL is going to have to create a succession plan. For years, it has appeared as though Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly would be first in line for the job.
However, one familiar name has now been floated as an outside possibility: former Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan.
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Shanahan has the rare mix of league-office and major-market experience
Brendan Shanahan has truly done it all. He was a Hall of Fame Player who proved that he could win a Stanley Cup. Furthermore, he worked as an NHL executive in the Department of Player Safety.
From there, he spent years as the President of Hockey Operations with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sure, the team never went on a deep run, but he at least made them contenders in a short amount of time.
When you think about the commissioner's role, you quickly realize that a guy like Shanahan is well suited for it. He has experience dealing with ownership, hockey operations, agents, players, and even general league governance. That combination is what makes Shanahan more interesting than a typical former executive.
Some may see Shanahan as a celebrity appointment, but that is not the case. Instead, he is one of the few people with experience inside the league office as well as leading the league's biggest franchise.
Shanahan only becomes a serious option if NHL owners decide not to simply promote Bill Daly
Shanahan only becomes a realistic alternative if owners decide they want a different direction than the continuity Daly would represent.
Shanahan can offer characteristics that Daly just doesn't have. He has former superstar credibility, major-market executive experience, Canadian-market perspective, and public-facing leadership. He was also a player and understands how they think.
Shanahan is not the favorite. He is the kind of candidate who becomes much more interesting if owners decide the post-Bettman NHL needs a different voice rather than a direct continuation.
Do you believe Brendan Shanahan should replace Gary Bettman?
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