Saskin Agrees To Secret Ballot After Players’ Legal Threats

Saskin Allowing NHLPA Exec Board To Vote Via Secret Ballot

Following allegations by some NHL players that the election of NHLPA Exec Dir Ted Saskin circumvented union by-laws, Saskin last night said in a statement, “I decided that it was in the best interests of the membership to conduct a secret ballot vote amongst our Player Representatives and Executive Officers so that there are absolutely no questions regarding my election as Executive Director and General Counsel” (NHLPA). In Toronto, Ken Campbell reports ballots are being sent to player reps today, and the vote “is expected to be completed by the end of the week.” The union’s exec board, which includes the seven exec committee members and 30 player reps, voted 31-6 on August 31 to approve Saskin’s appointment, but the voting was done via conference call and not by secret ballot, which violates the NHLPA constitution. Kings RW & NHLPA VP Trent Klatt led a group of players — including Maple Leafs RW Tie Domi and Wild G & player rep Dwayne Roloson –- who argued that Saskin was “therefore improperly hired.” Saskin: “This is a small brush fire being created by a very small group of players. I intend to continue to focus on what the overwhelming majority of our membership wants done in the future” (TORONTO STAR, 9/13).

DUE PROCESS: In Toronto, Tim Wharnsby reports Klatt was upset that Canucks C & NHLPA President Trevor Linden did not give the player reps “enough time to ask their teammates whether they supported the Saskin hiring.” Flames RW & player rep Jarome Iginla noted Saskin was appointed interim Exec Dir when former NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow resigned on July 28 and said, “Ted was hired a month later. Not one player called me to voice concern” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/13). Senators RW & NHLPA VP Daniel Alfredsson said that players upset with Linden and the voting process on Saskin “are entitled to voice their concerns.” But Alfredsson added, “I think the vast majority of all the players are happy (Linden’s) there and are supporting him. I have faith in him. I think we had a very proper vote” (OTTAWA SUN, 9/13). But Roloson said, “This is about making the union transparent again instead of having a communist setup here with one person making decisions for 700 guys. ... This is not about Ted, it’s about the process. I’m mad at how it happened” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/13). Kings C Sean Avery: “The whole executive committee should have been reevaluated, and first off, we should have decided if we even wanted them in place and then we should have taken an interview process like every other company in the world. ... We might have talked to an executive from Nike or something” (L.A. TIMES, 9/13).

MARVIN’S ROOM: MLBPA Exec Dir Marvin Miller believes the Saskin hiring violated U.S. labor law “and could even presage criminal charges.” Miller: “The NHL players have requirements in their constitution that say they simply cannot make it up as they go along. It’s not good enough to say that they’ve done it like this in the past. That’s just an admission of guilt. They’ve clearly violated their constitution.” The NHLPA is headquartered in Toronto, and the TORONTO STAR’s Rick Westhead notes that if the U.S. Justice Department investigates, it is “unclear whether the NHLPA would argue it’s a Canadian union, so not subject to oversight by U.S. regulators” (TORONTO STAR, 9/13).

NHLPA Did Not Want Goodenow To Be Seen As Scapegoat Following Dismissal

ROCK THE VOTE: In N.Y., Larry Brooks cites three union sources as saying that Goodenow “was dismissed by a unanimous vote of the NHLPA executive board in Toronto on July 21, and informed as much just prior to the press conference announcing PA ratification of the CBA that afternoon.” One source said, “Bob had told us he was willing to serve out the remainder of his term, but it didn’t seem appropriate with him being so against the deal and having nothing to do with negotiating it. So we had a meeting that morning. And the vote was 7-0 in favor of terminating Bob." It was agreed that the move to terminate Goodenow “would remain confidential,” but free agent & NHLPA VP Arturs Irbe “informed Goodenow of the vote immediately.” One source: “We did not want to make Bob a public scapegoat. We wanted the decision to remain secret so we could inform the player reps of the decision” (N.Y. POST, 9/13).

PASS THE PUCK: Klatt yesterday announced his retirement, saying that he was motivated by family considerations and his decision was “not related to” his role during the lockout (L.A. TIMES, 9/13).