The NHL’s Board of Governors has a new chairman for the first time in almost two decades.
Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was unanimously elected to the role on Tuesday, replacing Jeremy Jacobs of the Boston Bruins, who served in the position for the past 19 years.
Murray Edwards of the Calgary Flames will serve as the new vice-chair.
Leonsis, Jacobs, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman all released statements after the news was announced on Tuesday.
Ted Leonsis
It is a tremendous honor to be elected Chairman of the NHL’s Board of Governors, and I’m grateful to my fellow owners for their trust. Long before I became an owner, I was a fan of this game and of the Washington Capitals. I love hockey and have a profound belief in its potential – we have proven in Washington how investing in a team, its fans and in a community can create a true hockey city.
I thank Jeremy Jacobs for his nearly two decades of commitment to the League as Chairman and Gary Bettman for his stewardship and partnership, and I look forward to working closely alongside Murray Edwards as Vice-Chair. Our opportunity now is to continue growing our game, serve our fans well and build an even stronger National Hockey League.
Jeremy Jacobs
Serving as Chairman of the NHL’s Board of Governors has been one of the greatest honors of my life, both professionally and personally. I first was elected to the role in 2007, and nearly 20 years later, it’s well-past time for me to pass the torch.
I’m proud of what the Board of Governors, and our Commissioner Gary Bettman, have accomplished over the last two decades. We’ve reached landmark media rights deals, expanded to reach fans in new geographies of North America, and have put hockey on the world stage in new markets and with marquee events, all while prioritizing making the game safer for players and more fun and accessible for fans.
I succeeded the great Harley Hotchkiss following a challenging labor dispute, and in the subsequent years, and because of that shared difficult experience, owners and players found common ground and forged a great partnership. Together, we have achieved a level of competitive balance and stability that will help the League grow and prosper for generations to come.
Looking forward, I can’t think of a better successor than Ted Leonsis, a highly regarded and accomplished owner on the forefront of innovation. Ted is the right person to help chart a course for the future of hockey. Perhaps most importantly, Ted is a passionate hockey fan who greatly values the NHL’s ability to positively impact communities.
Murray Edwards, who understands the game and complexities of the modern League as well as anyone, will be a great partner to Ted as he takes on the role of Vice-Chair. I look forward to serving on the Board of Governors under their leadership.
I want to thank my fellow owners, past and present, for the honor of serving as your chairman. Go Bruins.
Gary Bettman
It has been one of the great privileges of my career to work alongside Jeremy Jacobs for the last 19 years as he led the Board of Governors with a rare combination of steadiness and vision. His wisdom and unwavering commitment to this League have helped guide us through a period of unprecedented growth, both on and off the ice. On behalf of the Board of Governors, our Clubs and our fans, I want to express my deepest gratitude for his extraordinary service and his enduring legacy as one of the great leaders in the history of our game.
Ted Leonsis’ entrepreneurial instincts and forward-thinking approach have helped shape the direction of our League for more than two decades. Since joining the Board of Governors, Ted has been an invaluable leader and a thoughtful voice in our boardroom, bringing to our discussions the same innovative spirit he has poured into Monumental Sports & Entertainment. I am excited to work alongside him in this new capacity as we continue to build on the remarkable momentum of our League.
Murray Edwards’ passion for our game, our League and our collective future has been evident in every conversation we’ve shared over the years. As one of our longest-serving Governors, Murray has been a great partner and an astute businessman, and his deep investment in the success of the sport of hockey makes him an ideal choice to serve as our Vice-Chair.
The Board of Governors is the NHL’s ruling and governing body. Each team appoints a Governor (typically its owner) and two alternates to the Board. It establishes policies, including reviewing and approving changes to the league’s rules, hiring and firing the commissioner, approving the purchase, sale, or relocation of teams, reviewing the league’s salary cap, and overseeing changes to the structure of the league’s schedule.
As the new chairman of the Board, Leonsis will work closely with Bettman and preside over the body’s biannual meetings.
Leonsis takes over amid a dispute among owners over the NHL’s plan for future expansion. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, some league ownership groups strongly oppose adding a 33rd and likely 34th franchise. The debate comes amid the NHL’s six-month evaluation period for an expansion bid from the Friedkin family in either Houston or Austin, Texas.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly recently walked back a previously stated possibility of having the league’s 33rd team confirmed by the end of the upcoming season.
The primary concerns from owners seem to revolve around which city in Texas is better for a potential new team and if even moving to 33 teams is worth the price of admission, likely a $3.5 billion expansion fee, at this point in time.
