On McDavid, Bettman said Thursday, "I understand the frustration, and it's something we're going to continue to monitor."
Bettman says he hasn't given the Board of Governors a timeline, but the executive committee is in a formal process of finding a successor.
At 72, Gary Bettman is in no rush to step into retirement. But the NHL has started taking steps to creating a suitable succession plan for when that day comes.