Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

NHLPA Walsh quickly figuring out player priorities as he takes the reigns

Newly elected NHLPA Exec Dir Marty Walsh is “still fresh in his new job,” but it “didn’t take long to figure out a couple of priorities” what members of his union want, according to Stephen Whyno of the AP. Walsh knows players “want to get back on the ice for a major international tournament” and that they “do not want to pay any more money into escrow.” With talks ongoing regarding another World Cup of Hockey and a “discussion on significantly raising the salary cap upcoming,” Walsh has a “clear starting point long before collective bargaining talks resume in a couple of years.” Walsh: “What I’d like to do is let’s establish the World Cup hockey back and let’s have a forward-looking schedule to see, so people can be consistent.” Walsh added that he is “spending his first several weeks on the job” meeting with players to gather what else is important to them (AP, 3/30). THE HOCKEY NEWS’ Ryan Kennedy noted it is “clear that Walsh wants to have an open line of communication with the union's membership.” Walsh said that he has “already chatted in person” with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the two “did know each other before” he was on the radar for the PA job. During a press conference Thursday, Walsh joked that “as long as the commissioner agrees with him, they'll get along just fine” (THE HOCKEY NEWS, 3/30).

NOT THE TRADITIONAL MOLD: SPORTSNET.ca’s Luke Fox noted the 55-year-old Walsh is not a "traditional hockey man.” Walsh is a politician who served seven years as the mayor of Boston and the past two years as Labor Secretary in President Joe Biden’s cabinet, but even “more than the political world, though,” Walsh wants you to know he “comes from the labour world.” Walsh does not “make any grand promises or fluff up his answers with lawyer-speak.” He is “polished yet genuine.” Walsh “seems like a straight shooter,” and he is “comfortable in the spotlight” (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/30).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/03/31/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/nhlpa-marty-walsh-press-conference.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2023/03/31/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/nhlpa-marty-walsh-press-conference.aspx

CLOSE