NHL Appoints Ted Leonsis as Board of Governors Chairman Following Jeremy Jacobs’ Departure

The (NHL) National Hockey League has announced a leadership transition, naming Washington Capitals Governor and Monumental Sports & Entertainment chairman, Ted Leonsis, as the unanimous choice for chairman of the League’s Board of Governors.

Leonsis succeeds Boston Bruins governor Jeremy Jacobs, who departs after a distinguished nineteen-year tenure characterised by substantial commercial expansion and institutional stability.

Simultaneously, the league appointed Calgary Flames governor Murray Edwards, as vice-chair of the Board, completing a leadership reshuffle designed to steer the organisation through its next phase of global commercial and operational growth.

Reflecting on the leadership transition overseen by Jacobs, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, emphasised the stability brought by the outgoing chairman while welcoming the entrepreneurial vision of Leonsis.

“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,” Bettman said

Addressing his new governance mandate, Leonsis underscored the importance of community investment, fan engagement, and commercial scaling across the league’s franchise network.

“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,” Leonsis said. 

Echoing these sentiments, Edwards, highlighting the framework between team owners, the league office, and players.

“I am incredibly honored to have been asked to assume the role of Vice-Chair of the NHL’s Board of Governors.”

“I am looking forward to working closely with incoming Chairman Ted Leonsis, our Board of Governor peers, Commissioner Bettman and the NHL Office to build upon the legacy of Jeremy Jacobs in ensuring the NHL’s continuing partnership with the players to create many opportunities,” Edwards said. 

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