Report: NHL preparing for commissioner Gary Bettman's eventual retirement

The National Hockey League could be facing the beginning of the end of an era for the sport.

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.

Minnesota Wild general manager Craig Leipold revealed to the league insiders that team owners have begun the process of searching for candidates to replace Bettman, who has been in the position since 1993 (nearly 32 years).

"The fact that Gary is going to be retiring, but that's a couple years down the road and we're doing the planning now, and we have to make sure we get it right when he leaves," Leipold is quoted in the report.

"Now we're going to transition to somebody else, and that should make us all a little concerned that we have to be certain we get the right person. It's a concern that I have that, 'How are we going to get anybody as good as Gary?' The answer is we're not," he continued.

Bettman, 72, has overseen the league in some of its greatest moments and also some of it's low points.

He's handed out the prestigious Stanley Cup to 17 different clubs and partaken in negotiations to end three separate player lockouts in his tenure.

Bettman told ALLCITY Network's Pete Blackburn just before the Winter Classic in late December, "I like where I am," but admitted his age and family responsibilities have factored in to his view on how much longer he sees himself in the commissioner role.