Commissioner Gary Bettman's salary and benefits increased in 2011, according to a report of the NHL's latest tax filings. (Alex Urosevic/QMI Agency/Files)
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman received a small pay raise in 2011, going from $7.5 million to almost 8 million in salary and benefits, according to a report.
According to the league's most recent tax filing, the Sports Business Journal reports Bettman earned a base salary of $6,090,173, including $1,711,930 in other compensation, $155,782 in deferred compensation and $25,868 in benefits totalling $7,983,753 during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011.
Since the lockout that cancelled the NHL's 2004-05 season, Bettman's salary has more than doubled. In that year, he made $3.7 million.
The publication says Bettman's compensation pales in comparison to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig (more than $20 million) and the NFL's Roger Goodell (around $20 million). NBA Commissioner David Stern's salary has never been made public.
Also listed in the tax filing are Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, who earned $2,856,431, Chief Operating Officer John Collins ($2,315,455), Senior Vice President Colin Campbell ($2,050,743), Chief Financial Officer Craig Harnett ($1,544,084), general counsel David Zimmerman ($975,037), Joseph DeSousa, executive vice president, finance ($876,681) and Michael Murphy, senior vice president, hockey operations ($711,119).
The league's total annual revenue increased from $2.9 billion in 2011 to $3.2 billion last season. However, the league posted a loss for its business of $14.7 million for the year, according to the tax filing. Expenses rose from $83.3 million to $103.9 million, while revenue declined from $91.4 million to $89.1 million.
