Jim Gregory was a Canadian hockey executive who had a long and successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1933 and began his career in hockey as a player in the Ontario Hockey Association. After his playing career ended, he moved into the administrative side of the game and worked as a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 1970, Gregory was hired by the NHL as the Director of Central Scouting, a position he held for nine years. In this role, he was responsible for evaluating and ranking players for the NHL Entry Draft. He was also instrumental in the development of the NHL Scouting Combine, which is still used today.

In 1979, Gregory was promoted to the position of Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations for the NHL. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the league, including player discipline, scheduling, and the implementation of new rules. He also served as the NHL's representative on the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Throughout his career, Gregory was highly respected by players, coaches, and executives alike. He was known for his fairness and his willingness to listen to all sides of an issue. He was also a strong advocate for player safety and was instrumental in the implementation of the helmet rule in 1979.

Gregory retired from the NHL in 1998 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also awarded the Order of Canada in 2009 for his contributions to the game of hockey. His legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of the NHL will live on for many years to come.

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