Chief operating officer John Collins, one of the key catalysts in spearheading the swelling of NHL revenues to about US$4 billion per year, is leaving the NHL.
The league announced Tuesday evening that Collins, who engineered the explosion of the popular NHL outdoor games, is departing the NHL to pursue a new business opportunity.
Collins, who joined the NHL in November 2006, had been COO since August 2008.
“John leaves a lasting mark,” commissioner Gary Bettman said. “His energy, creativity and skill at building strategic partnerships helped drive significant revenue growth for our League. We are grateful for his many contributions and wish him the best in his new endeavors.