Ice In HIs Veins

Saddle River’s Gary Bettman reflects on nearly three decades as National Hockey League Commissioner

By Joseph Ritacco

Upon enshrinement into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a member of its Class of 2018, National Hockey League (NHL) Commissioner Gary Bettman credited his family, friends, league staff, team owners, players and coaches for being part of a “collective collaboration” that made the honor possible, saying, “It celebrates everything that our league, our teams and our players have accomplished. It reaffirms my commitment to the pursuit of even greater excellence, and it reinforces my pride in what we stand for as a league.”

Nearly four years later, Bettman acknowledges the achievement didn’t sink in the night of the induction, and still hasn’t. “I’m still doing what I do, so it'll probably be felt more when I retire," he says.

Bettman, the longest tenured commissioner in the four major American team sports, will mark 30 years in the role next season, a professional journey that began at a New York City law firm and continued in the league office of the National Basketball Association. A search committee selected him from a group of five finalists to become the NHL’s new league leader. He took office on Feb. 1,1993. “No one can dream of being commissioner of a professional sports league without having their sanity in question,” he jokes. “Many people are interested, but few people get it.”

Among his greatest achievements is expansion, as the number of teams increased from 24 to 32 on his watch, including several franchises in the southern part of the United States - the result of a concerted effort to widen the league’s footprint. Revenue has grown exponentially while the league endured three labor stoppages and the public relations difficulties that came with them. New television deals have brought NHL games to larger audiences, and rule changes have allowed players more freedom to showcase their skills on the ice.

Going forward, Bettman hopes to connect with fans through both new media and technology in digital spaces as well as traditional media. He also wishes to enhance the fan experience at NHL arenas. “I believe the in-person experience at NHL games is the best in sports,” he says. “I want to make sure the game is competitive and entertaining and make sure our athletes have a chance to shine.”

The in-person experience has been hindered by the outbreak of COVID-19, which has impacted the past three NHL seasons. The 2019-2020 season was suspended indefinitely in March 2020 and resumed in August with expanded Stanley Cup playoffs held in two centralized “hub cities” in Toronto and Edmonton, with no spectators and only essential staff present. The 2020-2021 season was reduced from 82 to 56 games with mostly no attendance, and cross-border travel restrictions into Canada forced temporary realignment as the league put all seven Canadian teams into one division. The current season has proceeded as normally as possible, Bettman says, though more than 100 games have been postponed due to rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

“COVID was not something any of us could have expected,” says Bettman. “Our first priority has always been the health and safety of our players, staff and fans.” He continues, “It’s the third year, so it’s no longer a novelty. The novelty is the ways in which it has impacted us with the peaks and valleys of the variants. We’re always focused on the long term but are dealing with the realities of the short term. We always have to be flexible and have options. The cooperation of the National Hockey League Players’ Association and the ability of our 32 teams to adjust has been great.”

Bettman’s home life has provided a nice balance to the ups and downs of his high-profile job. He and his wife Shelli moved to Saddle River 25 years ago, finding peace and quiet that has been helpful in stressful times. The Bettmans raised three children - all of whom are married and remain in North Jersey - and now enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren.

Of his move to Saddle River, Bettman recalls, “We were in Rockland County, N.Y., at the time, and wanted more property, a larger home and more anonymity.” He continues, “Living in Saddle River makes you feel like you’re in the country, but the accessibility to everything in New York City has made it ideal.”

He includes Albert’s in Ho-Ho-Kus, Baumgart’s Cafe in Ridgewood, Andrea’s in Waldwick and Savini Restaurant & Lounge in Allendale among his favorite local places to dine.

Bettman has guided the NHL through several changes since being elected commissioner, but one thing has remained a constant for him from day one - the thrill he gets from presenting the Stanley Cup annually to the league’s champion. He says of the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, “It is the toughest trophy to win and the most iconic. The Stanley Cup has charisma. Being that close to it and seeing the raw emotion as people react to it is the most rewarding part of my job.”

Gary Bettman presents the Stanley Cub to Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos. "Presenting the iconic trophy to the championship team," says Bettman, "is the most rewarding part of being National Hockey League commissioner."