NHL Player Reps Vote Unanimously To Oust Exec Dir Ted Saskin

NHL Player Reps Unanimously Agree To Fire NHLPA’s Saskin

NHL player reps Thursday voted to terminate the employment of NHLPA Exec Dir Ted Saskin, effective immediately. The Exec Board is considering its options with respect to NHLPA Senior Dir of Business Ken Kim (NHLPA). In Toronto, Rick Westhead reports the players voted 22-0 to fire Saskin “for cause” after attorney Chris Paliare this week presented a report that concluded Saskin and Kim, who were put on leaves of absence in March, accessed player e-mail accounts (TORONTO STAR, 5/11). SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL’s Mullen & Mickle report players “deferred the question of whether Saskin would get a severance package until after union-hired investigator Sheila Block issues a report on the hiring of Saskin and the firing of his predecessor, Bob Goodenow, among other things.” Block’s report is expected this summer. Sources said that player reps were told Kim “had cooperated in the union’s investigation, and that player reps would wait to see whether Kim cooperates further before making a determination on him.” Mullen & Mickle report the players were told that in addition to accessing players’ NHLPA.com accounts, one player’s personal account was accessed. Sources said that the player was former NHLPA VP Trent Klatt, a now-retired player who was “the first to question Saskin’s hiring” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/14 issue).

LAWSUIT COMING? In Toronto, Allan Maki notes “firing with cause means the NHLPA will agree to fulfill only certain financial obligations, but not pay Saskin the estimated [US$6M] that remains on his contract.” One player said that the union “expects Saskin to sue” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 5/11). A source said that before his dismissal, Saskin had “suggested that he be retained by the NHLPA as a consultant, a proposal the union rejected” (TORONTO STAR, 5/11). Saskin: “All I am going to say at this time is that I remain proud of all the work I did for NHL players over the last 16 years and particularly in negotiating the new CBA, which has been working out well. I will work toward a fair resolution of my contractual rights with the NHLPA and wish them well in the future” (CP, 5/11).

Players Laud Chelios For Keeping Up Fight To Oust Union Head

REPLACEMENT PROCESS: Sources said that players on the conference call began to form an advisory group to look at how to start the search process for a new Exec Dir. One source said the group may examine “whether to put together a search committee or engage a headhunter outfit to find a new director.” NHLPA Associate General Counsel Ian Penny, who was not a Saskin supporter, will help to organize the group. Stars C Eric Lindros and Oilers C Shawn Horcoff are already part of the group, sources said. One source said the group “will be doing a little bit of fact-finding,” including “talking to people in the (sports) industry” about how to proceed (Liz Mullen, SportsBusiness Journal).

PLAYER REAX: Coyotes C Kevyn Adams said of Saskin, “There wasn’t any support for him. It was unanimous that this was something we needed to do. Once we saw the report from [Paliare], it was evident” (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/11). Maple Leafs D Bryan McCabe said, “I give [Red Wings D] Chris Chelios and some of his colleagues credit for keeping up the fight [to oust Saskin]. Maybe now the players can regain democratic power in the union” (TORONTO SUN, 5/11).