Saskin, NHLPA Continue To Butt Heads Months After Firing

Saskin Seeking Substantial Settlement From NHLPA

Former NHLPA Exec Dir Ted Saskin "is still seeking a substantial settlement on the five-year, $10[M] contract he signed in July of 2005,” according to Allan Maki of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. A source said that the NHLPA “is obliged to pay Saskin ‘a certain amount of money.' But (it) doesn’t want to pay the full amount of what’s left on the contract.” The NHLPA also wants to be compensated for the money Saskin used to defend himself against a civil suit filed in Illinois last October alleging he “knowingly, intentionally and fraudulently misrepresented and withheld and omitted facts to NHLPA members for the right to receive an excessive salary.” The suit was dismissed for being filed in the wrong jurisdiction. The NHLPA claims Saskin cost the union a minimum of $800,000 in legal fees and additional expenses in his bid to keep his job (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 8/24).

RIGHT SAID: Members of the NHLPA exec committee and the 30 team reps have begun receiving copies of an 80-100 page report completed by independent investigator Sheila Block, which Red Wings D Chris Chelios indicated will “provide the players with confirmation that Saskin’s firing was justified.” Chelios: “It backs a lot of our allegations that the constitution wasn’t followed and that Ted was the one who was instructing [the former exec committee] and not doing anything to follow the constitution.” The report will be disclosed to all players during meetings in Toronto next week (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 8/23).