Editor's note: This story is revised from the print edition.
Eric Lindros, in his letter resigning from his position as NHL Players’ Association ombudsman last week, revealed a rift within the union staff and a deep problem between himself and Executive Director Paul Kelly, and raised questions over whether staff members conspired to undermine him and the ombudsman’s office itself, both internally and publicly.
“The efforts of a few have made it impossible for me to effectively carry out the duties of ombudsman,” Lindros said in the three-page letter to the 30 player representatives who make up the NHLPA executive board, the governing body of the union. SportsBusiness Journal obtained a copy of the letter.
The NHLPA, in response to a request to interview Kelly, issued a statement from Kelly that said, “I will not engage in a public exchange regarding the inaccurate accusations made in a leaked internal email.”
The NHLPA also said that it would take steps in the coming weeks to fill the role of ombudsman.
In his letter, however, Lindros questioned Kelly’s support for the role. The letter quoted Kelly from a January appearance on “Hockey Night in Canada” in which he said: “If the person [ombudsman] is there to receive and investigate complaints and there are no complaints,” then the union is “just paying a person and occupying an office.”
Eric Lindros resigned after a little more
than a year as the NHLPA’s
first ombudsman.
Lindros indicated that complaints and concerns were brought to his attention, the majority of those by staff members.
Among the issues Lindros raised in the letter were:
Whether NHLPA staff members who complained to the ombudsman were asked about their loyalty to the executive director in or around the time of their annual salary reviews.
Kelly’s agreement with the league on an 84-game schedule. Lindros wrote that “although the league decided against the change, the proper process of voting [on the proposed change within the union] was not adhered to.”
The involvement of Chicago-based search firm Reilly Partners as well as the payments to the firm in regard to the NHLPA advisory board search and the search for a marketing director.
Lindros said in his letter that Reilly Partners, the firm that conducted the search resulting in Kelly’s hiring, was paid $250,000 to do the search for the newly created NHLPA advisory board last year but that the executive board formed a committee to do the search. Lindros also questioned whether the amount of money paid to Reilly Partners to find the marketing executive was in line with industry standards.
An official at Reilly Partners, which is conducting the search for the next executive director of the NFL Players Association, would not comment.
(Editor’s note: After the deadline passed for the print edition of SportsBusiness Journal, Reilly Partners issued the following statement: “There are untruths and inaccuracies in the letter as it pertains to Reilly Partners.”)
Lindros and Kelly were staunch supporters of each other when they were both hired around the same time in late 2007, but throughout 2008 the two have been increasingly at odds, according to hockey sources. Last month Kelly issued a statement to SportsBusiness Journal supportive of Lindros, in response to a television and print report indicating that Lindros would be fired. Under the constitution, only the executive board, not the executive director, can fire the ombudsman.
The NHLPA constitution was revised to add the roles of ombudsman and the advisory board in 2007 after the firing of former NHLPA Executive Director Ted Saskin.
The ombudsman and advisory board were created to provide checks and balances for the executive director position, and Kelly has acknowledged that the watchdog nature of the ombudsman could naturally create friction with the executive director. Lindros acknowledged the same in his letter.
Josh Zuckerberg, a labor attorney who has represented both unions and management, said Lindros’ letter and resignation may make it tough to find a successor.
“This could have a chilling effect on the union’s ability to recruit former players or other qualified personnel to satisfy or fill this role,” he said.
