NHL Player Reps Vote Unanimously To Oust Exec Dir Ted Saskin
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NHL Player Reps Unanimously
Agree To Fire NHLPA’s Saskin
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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).
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Players Laud Chelios For Keeping
Up Fight To Oust Union Head
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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).
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