Top Insider Reveals Gary Bettman's Successor as NHL Commissioner

Gary Bettman has been a productive commissioner for the National Hockey League, although at times, the fans have been incensed by his decisions.

Overall, Bettman will forever be a polarizing figure in the sport of hockey. He turned his back on Canada and expanded the game to the Southern United States. For all intents and purposes, he was successful in growing the game.

Having said that, Bettman is nearing the end of his reign as commissioner. He has made it clear that he wants to retire soon, especially now that the Collective Bargaining Agreement has been completed.

Some even believe that Bettman will retire at the end of next season, as that is when the current CBA will expire. A new CBA could bring about a new regime.

With Gary Bettman potentially on the way out, it only makes sense that there would be speculation surrounding his replacement.

Recently, insider and respected podcast host Jeff Marek revealed that the likeliest option right now is none other than Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.

Daly has been the Deputy Commissioner for years at this point and has been one of the faces of the league's front office beyond Gary Bettman.

Overall, he is someone that the players know very well, and Daly is also well-respected by the owners and the general manager.

It feels as though Bettman has been training him for this position for years, so it only makes sense that he is the man who gets the job when Bettman eventually leaves.

Don't expect sweeping changes to the NHL when Daly takes over. At the end of the day, he and Bettman are very much aligned on a variety of issues.