NHL Commissioner GARY BETTMAN once again leads the list of the top 25 NHL Power Brokers, with SPORTSNET.ca's John Shannon writing there is "no formula used to build this ranking, because there are no analytics that can fully capture a person’s impact on the game." Shannon: "These people are all dynamic personalities who somehow touch hockey, albeit in different ways." Without a doubt, Bettman’s "control of the world’s best professional hockey league remains intact." There is "no better example of it than the debate over NHLers playing" at the '18 PyeongChang Games. Bettman continues to "manage relations with all 31 owners very well." The trust the BOG has for him is "exceptional." Bettman has "taken a very hands-on approach with the NHL’s centennial plans, including major events in Montreal and Ottawa next November and December." And he has "revitalized the league’s global brand -- with or without the Olympics" (SPORTSNET.ca, 1/26).
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TOP 25 NHL POWER BROKERS
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RANK
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NAME |
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1
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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman |
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2
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NHLPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr |
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3
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Hockey HOFer Wayne Gretzky |
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4
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NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly |
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5
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Blackhawks Owner Rocky Wirtz |
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6
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NHLPA Special Assistant to the Exec Dir Mathieu Schneider |
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7
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NHL Senior Exec VP/Hockey Operations Colin Campbell |
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8
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Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs |
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9
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Penguins C Sidney Crosby |
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10
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Oilers C Connor McDavid |
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11
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NHL Senior VP & Dir of Officiating Stephen Walkom |
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12
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NHL Exec VP & General Counsel David Zimmerman |
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13
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IOC President Thomas Bach and IIHF President Rene Fasel |
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14
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Canadiens Owner, President & CEO Geoff Molson
and Jets Exec Chair Mark Chipman |
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15
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Panthers Owner & Chair Vinnie Viola' |
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16
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Oilers Entertainment Group Vice Chair & CEO Bob Nicholson |
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17
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NHL Exec VP/Digital Media & Strategic Planning Stephen McArdle |
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18
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Maple Leafs C Auston Matthews |
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19
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Predators D P.K. Subban |
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20
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Blue Jackets President John Davidson |
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21
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Orr Hockey Group Partner Jeff Jackson |
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22
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NHL Senior VP/Scheduling & Broadcasting Steve Hatze Petros |
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23
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Vaughn Sports Founder & CEO Mike Vaughn |
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24
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NHL Exec VP & CMO Heidi Browning |
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25
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Octagon agent Allan Walsh |
