Jeremy Jacobs is handing over the gavel at the NHL Board of Governors, ending a chairmanship that began in 2007 and ran alongside one of the league’s most expansive modern periods. The Boston Bruins owner will remain on the board, but Washington Capitals Governor Ted Leonsis has been unanimously selected to replace him as chairman. Calgary Flames Governor Murray Edwards will continue as vice-chair.
A changing of the guard at the board table
- Jacobs bought the Bruins and Boston Garden in 1975 for roughly $10 million, arriving when Bobby Orr was still patrolling Boston’s blue line. He was 35 at the time.
- His family had already been tied to the sport through ownership of the AHL’s Buffalo Bisons during his youth.
- Jacobs joined the NHL’s Audit, Finance and Executive Committees in 1979.
- In 2007, he succeeded Calgary’s Harley Hotchkiss as chairman of the Board of Governors following a difficult labor period for the league.
- Nearly two decades later, Jacobs has elected to step aside from the chair role, with Leonsis taking over and Edwards remaining in the deputy position.
“Serving as chairman of the NHL’s Board of Governors has been one of the greatest honors of my life, both professionally and personally,” Jacobs said. “I was first elected to the role in 2007, and nearly 20 years later, it’s well past time for me to pass the torch.”
Jacobs pointed to major media-rights agreements, the league’s reach into new North American markets, international events and an emphasis on player safety and fan access among the board’s accomplishments during his tenure.
Bruins ownership built around a long playoff run
Jacobs is the longest-serving sole owner among North America’s four major professional sports leagues. His 50 seasons in Boston have included the construction of TD Garden, the current home of both the Bruins and NBA’s Boston Celtics.
The Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 42 of those 50 seasons. Their defining championship under Jacobs came in 2011, when Boston won its first Cup since 1972 by beating the Vancouver Canucks. The club returned to the Final in 2013, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks, and again in 2019, when the St. Louis Blues took the series.
Jacobs has also led Delaware North, the family hospitality company, since 1968. The company operates food, retail, hotel and restaurant businesses, including operations at airports and sports venues. Three of Jacobs’ six children with his wife, Peggy, serve as Delaware North CEOs.
League stability and expansion
During Jacobs’ chairmanship, the NHL added the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken. The board also approved a collective bargaining agreement that took effect Sept. 16 and will remain in place through Sept. 15, 2030.
Jacobs said the shared experience following the labor dispute that preceded his appointment helped owners and players establish a productive working relationship. He credited that partnership with creating the parity and stability needed for long-term league growth.
“I’m proud of what the Board of Governors, and our Commissioner, Gary Bettman, have accomplished over the last two decades,” Jacobs said.
Commissioner Gary Bettman praised Jacobs’ leadership over the past 19 years, citing his steady approach, vision and commitment to the league during a time of growth on and off the ice.
“His wisdom and unwavering commitment to this League have helped guide us through a period of unprecedented growth,” Bettman said. “His enduring legacy” places him among hockey’s major leaders, Bettman added.
Leonsis takes the chair
Leonsis, chairman of Monumental Sports and Entertainment as well as the Capitals’ governor, moves into the chairmanship with unanimous support from the Board of Governors. Jacobs called him an accomplished owner with a forward-looking approach and a strong appreciation for hockey’s community impact.
Edwards, whom Jacobs described as deeply familiar with both the game and the challenges facing the modern NHL, stays on as vice-chair to support Leonsis.
“I can’t think of a better successor than Ted Leonsis,” Jacobs said. “Ted is the right person to help chart a course for the future of hockey.”
Jacobs will continue to serve on the board under Leonsis and Edwards. His final signoff as chairman carried a familiar Boston note: “Go Bruins.”
Honors across hockey
- Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame induction in 2006.
- Sports Museum of Boston Hockey Legacy Award in 2012.
- Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame induction in 2013.
- Lester Patrick Trophy in 2015 for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
- Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame induction in 2016.
- Hockey Hall of Fame induction in the Builders category in 2017.
When Jacobs entered the Hockey Hall of Fame, Bruins president Cam Neely said the owner’s commitment to providing competitive resources and helping grow the game had been clear both during Neely’s playing days and later in the front office.
