The Athletic's Michael Russo and Chris Johnston reported Thursday that commissioner Gary Bettman informed the league's executive committee to prepare for his retirement. Per that report, Bettman has not decided when exactly he'll step down but it's likely still a few years in the future.

Bettman says he hasn't given the Board of Governors a timeline, but the executive committee is in a formal process of finding a successor.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is the longest-tenured chief executive across all North American professional sports leagues all time at 32 years, but his

Ladies and gentlemen, the day that we’ve all waited for has finally come. Well, maybe not exactly yet, but the day is coming. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has reportedly informed the NHL’s Board of Governor’s his plans for retirement and will walk away from the sport “in a couple years.