NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Paul Kelly has invited NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to attend and address players at the union’s summer meetings. The invitation is the first Bettman has received in 15 years as commissioner.
Kelly informally extended the invitation when he met Bettman for the first time this fall. He later repeated his invite when he spoke before the league’s board of governors Nov. 29. A written invitation to the commissioner followed in an e-mail early this month.
“I was pleased to be invited,” Bettman said in an e-mail. “We believe that this represents a constructive development in our relationship.”
The invitations highlight the new course Kelly has charted as executive director of the NHLPA. Since being named to the position in October, he has committed to his belief that an open line of communication will be necessary for the league and union to enhance the NHL’s business.
“In past years, my appearance at the board of governors or the commissioner’s appearance at one of our meetings would not have been an enjoyable event,” Kelly said. “The players now hold the same view I hold. It’s time to grow the revenues and look at new markets and work with each other instead of against each other.”
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| Paul Kelly
NHLPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
Kelly expects Bettman to meet with the players for an hour next summer, during which the commissioner will address the players and then answer their questions about the state of the league. From salary cap to collective-bargaining agreement to escrow, Kelly said, “there will be no topic that will be out of bounds” or question that will be off limits.
“Players haven’t had an opportunity in a constructive way to put questions to the commissioner,” Kelly said. “It’ll be a helpful, open way for the commissioner to share his perspective on a number of issues.”
Kelly faced similarly challenging questions from the board of governors when he addressed them Nov. 29. He fielded questions on his management style and ability to bring under control the outspoken segment of the players association.
Inviting Bettman to address the players was impossible under the two previous regimes. Bob Goodenow established such an adversarial relationship with the league that it made Bettman’s appearance at a player event an impossibility, while Ted Saskin was considered so close to league officials that Bettman’s appearance would give credence to critics who considered Saskin a management pawn.
“I’m a big believer that there should be an open line of communication and the two sides need to work in a constructive way,” Kelly said.
Though Kelly recognized the invitation is a major step in the relationship of the league and union, he said his efforts to work with the league should not be misinterpreted.
“I’m not a stranger to controversy or tough battles,” he said. “If the day comes and we have to go (into negotiations), at the risk of being somewhat immodest, the players will be in good hands. That said, I’ve told the players that may not be in their best interest, in the best interest of the fans or in the best interest of the league.”
Kelly continues to make other changes to the union’s day-to-day business operations. He remains committed to establishing a U.S. office for the union and has hired Reilly Partners, the Chicago-based search firm that found Kelly, to assist in the hiring of a senior marketing executive in the U.S.
“We’re looking for someone to blaze a trail and help us find an office, most likely in New York, and put an appropriate satellite office in place,” said Kelly, noting that the union would like to hire someone with a marketing background from one of the other professional leagues.
Kelly’s goals include pushing the league to get back on ESPN and encouraging the NHL to broaden its international marketing efforts. He will attend the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic at the end of this month and met with international hockey leaders to discuss playing more NHL games abroad.
“There’s a culture of ice hockey in large segments of the globe,” Kelly said, “and we need to have a greater presence.”
