From the Ice to Las Vegas: NHL Players Who Built Empires Off the Rink

Hockey careers don’t last long. If you’re lucky, 20 years, if you’re realistic, 15 years, and if you’re Marc Savard, just one bad concussion. So what do the smartest NHL stars do? They put in a lot of work to create something that will benefit them long after the skates are off — and many of them do it from a desk in Las Vegas, not a rink in Winnipeg.

Whether it’s Gretzky’s wineries or Lemieux taking ownership of the Penguins, the transition from player to mogul is the least publicized tale in pro hockey. There are many guys who cash their cheques and then move to a cottage in Muskoka. The legends? They create restaurant chains, purchase junior franchises, establish entertainment businesses, and — for the shrewd few — venture into the rapidly expanding Canadian digital entertainment industry. The numbers tell a wild story if you want to learn more about how Canadians are spending their leisure dollars in 2026 — or where today’s NHL stars are quietly spending theirs.

Why Vegas? Why Now?

The Golden Knights’ Cup run is just one reason why Las Vegas is a hockey town. It was the unofficial headquarters for half the league. It’s easy to see why:

• No state income tax – a paycheque saver every Canadian player knows.

• Privacy and lifestyle — gated communities, year-round golf, no paparazzi at Tim Hortons.

• Business density — opportunities for entertainment, hospitality and sports businesses in one zip code.

• Direct flights — Vegas is closer to Montreal than most Habs fans realize.

Five Players, Five Empires

Some of these lads earned more after retirement than during their playing careers. Hot take? Maybe. The facts tell a different story.

Gretzky: The Blueprint

Wayne Gretzky wasn’t only the face of the hockey game, he was also a Vegas regular and a wine label owner. His estate-bottled line, Wayne Gretzky Estates, continues to be sold throughout Canada and his real estate transactions in California and Nevada made him an unheralded nine-figure player. According to NHL.com coverage of his business ventures, 99 has done more for his wallet in retirement than in his prime — and his prime was the highest-paid in 1990s hockey.

Lemieux: The Owner-Operator

Tooled up the Penguins, took them over, and left as a champion (again) when he sold his interest in 2021 to Fenway Sports Group. Mario didn’t move to Vegas, he didn’t need to. He created his empire where he won his Cups. That said? His Florida and Arizona holdings are a tale of the Sun Belt that is known to anybody who has heard of a snowbird Quebecer.

What fans get wrong about ‘Rich Athletes’

And that’s where things get hot. Quebec sports radio has a thing for beating up the modern NHLer for being soft, overpaid and disconnected. However, the fact of the matter is that today’s stars are better businessmen than the ’70s legends ever were. Even mediocre names, guys you don’t remember were in the league, have big side businesses going on. Want proof? Take a look at the players from Canadian teams who are looking to make a move into the post career world, and half of them already have a business in place before they even reach 100 NHL games. No more is hockey IQ limited to the blue line.

The next time some talking head grips his head and says that NHL pay is too high, think about it: The people who made their fortunes off the ice, whether in Vegas, Quebec or elsewhere, aren’t to blame. They’re the blueprint. Discuss.

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