11/21/24
August 31, 2009
NHL players fire union chief: Once again, the National Hockey League Players' Association is looking for an executive director. The NHLPA said in a release Monday that its executive board "voted overwhelmingly to relieve Paul Kelly of his duties as executive director, effective immediately." No reason was given, but it's believed the union executive felt that Kelly did not take enough of an adversarial stance with league management. Kelly succeeded Ted Saskin, who was let go in May 2007 amid allegations of monitoring players' email. Saskin had taken over when Bob Goodenow stepped down under pressure from the players on July 28, 2005, only two weeks after a collective bargaining agreement was signed to end the lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.
posted by tommytrump to hockey at 02:07 PM - 6 comments
Surprised yea maybe but the rumblings started last week at the orientation camp in Calgary. I'm shocked not at all. Kelly's lack of hockey knowledge and his buddy buddy approach to Bettman certainly rubbed many players the wrong way. Kinda smells like an inside power move by Glenn Healey to me especially with the immediate resignation of Pat Flatley. It will be interesting to see if Healey is on the top of the replacement list. The search committee should be announced probably later today.
posted by skydivedad at 02:44 PM on August 31, 2009
I was shocked when I read the headline, but after reading the article, not so much.
The article addresses the discontent on the process by which Saskin was hired and Eric Lindros' resignation as the association's ombudsman but what it doesn't address is how there are plenty of capable players still out there that won't get a job this season in the NHL due to the salary cap or those that believe that they will get underpaid because of collusion.
I fear the worst, that another hockeyless winter awaits us in the near future.
posted by MrFrisby at 10:28 PM on August 31, 2009
And yet Bettman still has his job...
posted by MeatSaber at 11:41 PM on August 31, 2009
As a fan I vote to relieve Bettman of his duties.
posted by cixelsyd at 01:12 PM on September 01, 2009
Not much detail, but here's some insight into the process from a member of the special committee designated to look into the performance of Kelly.
posted by Howard_T at 02:40 PM on September 03, 2009
I'll take the job.