25th Anniversary Top 100 People of Power & Influence in Hockey: Nos. 40 to 21
On Day 4 of a five-day series, The Hockey News unveils the list featuring the 100 most powerful and influential people in hockey in 2024. Here are those ranked from 40 to 21.
The Top 100 People of Power & Influence in hockey are featured annually in The Hockey News' Money and Power issue, available at THN.com/free.
In the 25th anniversary of THN's Top 100 People of Power and Influence list, we're unveiling the Century Club, which includes owners, players, execs, media and more.
Each person on the list this year is ranked in 13 categories of clout, along with many more powerbrokers identified within various silos of expertise. That's all available to find in The Hockey News' Money and Power 2024 Hockey Business Annual.
On the fourth day of this five-day series, here are those ranked from 40 to 21 on the 25th anniversary Top 100 People of Power & Influence:
40. Vincent Viola, Florida Panthers owner
Savvy hires led the Panthers to new heights and made hockey a hot ticket in Sunrise. Viola’s role on NHL’s inclusion council gives him ability to create meaningful change.
39. Brian Jennings, NHL senior exec. VP, marketing and chief branding officer
Adidas is out. Fanatics is in. Jennings will oversee the transition, though no significant changes are expected…yet. New designs lead to sales, and that’s difficult to resist.
38. Wayne Gretzky, TNT Hockey analyst
It’s a treat for hockey fans to hear the thoughts and stories of The Great One with regularity on the NHL on TNT panel, especially as Ovechkin tries to chase down his goals record.
37. George Parros, NHL senior vice-president, director of player safety
The NHL’s top disciplinarian for a seventh season, this former enforcer strives for consistency in his rulings. He communicates with players and managers on borderline incidents.
36. Doug Armstrong, St. Louis Blues GM
The NHL’s longest-tenured GM at 14 seasons, Armstrong is overseeing a changing of the guard to the Blues’ younger players after Cup winners O’Reilly and Tarasenko moved on.
35. Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings GM
With Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat now reunited, can the Red Wings seize a playoff spot for the first time in Yzerman’s five-year tenure? Also an executive committee member.
34. David Proper, NHL senior exec. VP, media and international strategy
The TNT and ESPN deals were big business, and Proper’s sights are set on the Canadian TV rights negotiations in two seasons’ time. Is a similar rights-sharing pact in the cards?
33. Kris King, NHL senior vice-president of hockey operations
The head of the NHL situation room in Toronto, King was tasked with overseeing the video reviews for all 32 teams staggered over a full day during October’s Frozen Frenzy.
32. Keith Wachtel, NHL senior executive VP, global partnerships and CRO
The betting business is here to stay, and Wachtel’s forward thinking saw the NHL land partnerships with big North American sportsbooks such as MGM, FanDuel and PENN Entertainment.
31. Dan MacKenzie, CHL president
Since succeeding Branch as CHL president in 2019, MacKenzie has already navigated the pandemic. Now, all three of his leagues are making leadership changes in a short timeframe.
30. David Branch, OHL commissioner
The only commissioner the modern OHL has ever known, Branch will soon call it a day after 45 influential years. His swan song will be the 2024 Memorial Cup, hosted in Saginaw.
29. Brendan Shanahan, Toronto Maple Leafs president, alt. governor
Shanahan has never been under greater pressure despite the franchise being in the midst of its greatest period of success in the post-lockout era. He bet big on front-office changes.
28. Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks center
Fellow players were trying to mimic his release even before he entered the league. A playoff debut is years away for the moribund Blackhawks, but he’s renewed hope in the Windy City.
27. Stephen Walkom, NHL senior VP, director of officiating
No major rule changes this season, but power-play chances are at their highest in a decade-plus. As junior leagues move away from fighting, it’s on the rise in the NHL, albeit slightly.
26. Ken Holland, Edmonton Oilers GM
This four-time Cup winner remains a powerful voice on the GMs’ executive committee. As the Oilers chase a championship, Holland now reports to new hockey-ops boss Jeff Jackson.
25. David Blitzer, New Jersey Devils co-owner
New Jersey native bought his hometown team in 2013. He remains on private-equity firm Blackstone’s management committee. Named to the NHL’s executive committee in 2023.
24. Larry Tanenbaum, Toronto Maple Leafs co-owner
Few wield more power than the individual atop the league’s most lucrative franchise. His spots on the executive committee and Hall of Fame board of directors give him further sway.
23. David Zimmerman, NHL executive VP, chief legal officer and general counsel
Over two-plus decades, Zimmerman has been a central figure for the league in its off-ice business, including the maneuvering of sales, investments, legal hurdles and much more.
22. Kerry Bubolz, Vegas Golden Knights president
Becoming a hot ticket in Vegas is no simple feat, yet the work Bubolz and Co. have done has turned the Cup-champion Golden Knights into a can’t-miss on- and off-ice product.
21. Mark Chipman, Winnipeg Jets co-owner
Chipman holds roles on the executive committee, inclusion council and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. His group continues to reshape Winnipeg around its downtown arena.
