NHLPA To Review Ombudsman Position, Consider Hargrove For Post
 |
Hargrove Open To Becoming
Permanent Ombudsman |
The NHLPA has "formed a committee to evaluate the union's ombudsman role and possibly find a permanent replacement" for former Ombudsman Eric Lindros, according to Liz Mullen of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. A source said that interim Ombudsman Buzz Hargrove "could get the job on a permanent basis," and Hargrove indicated that he is "open to that idea." NHLPA Exec Dir Paul Kelly in an e-mail said Hargrove "rolled up his sleeves and went right to work for our members as the Interim Ombudsman. I have been very impressed with his experience, energy, approach, and commitment." Mullen notes Lindros in his resignation letter last month "raised concerns about the organization, including whether Kelly wanted an ombudsman at all." But Hargrove said that he is "not looking into the concerns raised in the letter because 'no one has asked me to look into those things.'" Hargrove: "I am coming in with a clean slate, and looking forward, not backward. But if someone raises it, I will look into it." Hargrove added that he "likes the 'slower pace' of being ombudsman of a union with 700 members, compared with" his former post as Canadian Auto Workers President, where he was president of a union "which, at its height, counted 250,000 members" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/30 issue). The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts reports the NHLPA "will decide this summer" if Hargrove will be its permanent Ombudsman, as Kelly in an e-mail yesterday said that the decision "will be made at the union's annual meetings" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/31).
CONTENTIOUS ISSUE: The GLOBE & MAIL's Allan Maki noted what has become "alarmingly difficult for the players is having a chunk of their salary held in escrow so it can be handed over to the owners." Though players "initially benefited from the new labour deal -- increases in league revenue led to an increase in the salary cap -- they feel they're once again bailing out bad owners and poor marketplaces." One player: "Why should we pay for the owners' negligence? The players have gone out of their way to promote the game, do interviews and commercials. There are some owners doing the job and doing it well, but it's all done individually, not by the league." Maki wrote the "longer the players live with" the current CBA, the "better they understand its shortcomings" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/28).
NO TO MOTHER RUSSIA: TSN hockey analyst Bob McKenzie said, "I don’t think Gary Bettman could make it any clearer. The NHL owners at this point in time are not seriously considering going to Sochi in 2014" to participate in the Olympics. MacKenzie: "Unless there’s some dramatic side agreement between the owners and the players -- which I don’t see on the horizon at this point in time -- it will be something that comes up for negotiation" in the next round of CBA talks (“NHL Live!” NHL Network, 3/30).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
Bettman Sits For Q&A With Maclean's
November 19, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Wild Have Held Winter Classic Talks
November 17, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Hargrove Discusses Ongoing NHLPA Saga
November 16, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NHL Reinstates Ducks Owner Henry Samueli
November 13, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NHLPA Committee To Review Constitution
November 13, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
Filings Show Coyotes Lost $5M In Oct.
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Canucks Criticized For Getting H1N1 Vaccine
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Panthers Hold Promo For Rink Naming Rights
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Ticket Package Offered For Flyers, 76ers
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Blackhawks' John McDonough Profiled
November 19, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
