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Entries with the tag: nhlpa

NHL Player Agents Meet Paul Kelly

by Alanah on 03/26/08 at 07:47 PM
Comments (0)

From the Canadian Press via TSN,

Some of the NHL’s most powerful agents got their first real glimpse of the new executive director of the NHL Players’ Association on Wednesday, and they liked what they saw.

Paul Kelly met with more than 100 player agents for the first time since he started on the job five months ago.

“You get a sense that he’s passionate and he’s got a vision,” said agent Pat Brisson of CAA Sports. “He wants to protect the players obviously but he wants to grow the game - which is fantastic.’

continued...

Filed in: NHL Talk | KK Hockey
Tags: agents, nhlpa, paul+kelly,

Paul Kelly on the NHL Hour

by Alanah on 01/24/08 at 02:12 PM
Comments (0)

The NHLPA’s Paul Kelly will be Gary Bettman’s guest on the NHL Hour today.

The NHL Hour broadcasts live Thursdays from 4-5 pm ET on NHL Home Ice, (XM channel 204) and NHL.com. The show will re-run on XM Satellite Radio and NHL.com, with archived shows available for download via a podcast on NHL.com.

*At showtime, listen live at this link.  While on the air, listeners can call into the show at 1-877-645-6696, or send questions/comments via this email address: .

Paul Kelly is an Optimist

by Alanah on 01/11/08 at 09:11 PM
Comments (0)

From Mark Spector at the National Post,

“I think someone can effectively represent the players of the NHL, and at the same time do it in a manner that is constructive, co-operative with the NHL, with the owners, and good for the game as a whole,” Kelly said in a one-on-one interview this week. “We should be able to solve complex problems without firing at each other; without not being able to be in the same room with each other; without the bitterness and emotion that existed the last time.

“Maybe I’m being naive,” he added. “But I will tell you, having spent a lot of years dealing with difficult legal issues - civil and criminal - and negotiating difficult legal problems with some of the finest lawyers in the world, I know it is possible to do this.”

more...

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa, paul+kelly,

Players Think Green

by Paul on 12/06/07 at 09:09 PM
Comments (0)

from Matthew Sekeres of the Globe and Mail,

A professional hockey player and environmentalist David Suzuki make for strange breakfast companions, but their unlikely encounter in Calgary last year is greening dressing rooms throughout the NHL.

Since their meeting last fall, Andrew Ference, a Boston Bruins defenceman, has become the point man for the National Hockey League Players’ Association on environmental issues. His goal is to slow climate change by changing the mindset of his fellow players.

Friday, Ference and Suzuki will unite for a news conference in Toronto to unveil a partnership between the NHLPA and the David Suzuki Foundation. The two are teaming up to help offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by NHL players whose jobs require them to travel by planes, trains, buses and cars.

continued

NHLPA Changing its Tune

by Alanah on 12/06/07 at 02:17 PM
Comments (1)

From Jim Kelley at Sports Illustrated,

What comes as a shock to long-time observers, however, is that now the NHL Players’ Association wants to get involved, and not necessarily to fight off the suspensions that were handed down by Colin Campbell, the NHL’s Director of Hockey Operations, as well as the perceived threat of additional suspensions that were hinted at by Commissioner Gary Bettman and his deputy, Bill Daly.

Paul Kelly, who barely has found a chair that fits him as the NHLPA’s new executive director said recently that he’s “concerned” about the number of suspensions the Flyers have been given since the start of the season and that not only should the league take a tougher stance, but that his organization should “have a voice in the process.”

Given that he’s not dead, it would be wrong to say that former NHLPA boss Bob Goodenow is spinning in his grave over that one, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Kelly’s statement made his head turn. Criticism of Goodenow within and outside the PA often centered on how he handled on-ice or player-on-player violence. The perception (Goodenow argued it was unfair) was that the PA was quick to come to the defense of any perpetrator, but did next to nothing to protect the health, safety and long-term welfare of the player who was unduly or unfairly assaulted.

more

All Paul Kelly & Eric Lindros

by Paul on 12/03/07 at 08:16 PM
Comments (0)

from In the Room at the Washington Times,

Kelly and Lindros talked about all sorts of issues with the game, and since the story was more of a feature on the two of them trying to help the NHLPA regroup, there was not room for their views on a lot of important topics. So here is some what we talked about. It is a lot to digest, but there is some pretty good stuff in here.

ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE GAME

KELLY: We like the game played at a high rate of speed. We like to see good, close games whether they are 2-1, 3-2 or 8-7. I don’t know that the volume of goals is really the issue. We want to see good, clean, competitive, fast play.

read on

Early Line Of The Day

by Paul on 11/30/07 at 07:25 AM
Comments (0)

“I told them expressly, it is my view that any labour interruption in this sport would be devastating,” Kelly said, “and that the public, particularly in the United States, would turn away in disgust. And that we owe it to the game and to the fans to work through issues and to avoid any discussions of lockouts and strikes. I sensed a positive agreement from the owners to that comment.”

No kidding!!!

read more from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail, including the league may look at an 84 game season. The players will approve it as long as the exhibition season is shortened.

added 7:50am, from Terry Frei at All Things Avs,

...but when word arrived tonight of the NHL Board of Governors’ decision on a scheduling format for next season, I thought it was a joke. The much-reviled format is only being tweaked in what is essentially a return to the pre-lockout format, not overhauled. What the league needed to do first and foremost — send every team to every arena every season — is not part of the plan. The league is telling the fans they are No. 1 — but with the wrong finger.

Everything else being equal, this is going to cost the Avalanche and other Western Conference franchises even more season ticket accounts.

more

Paul Kelly Faces Challenges

by Paul on 11/30/07 at 06:57 AM
Comments (1)

from Kevin Allen of USA TODAY,

Now a month on the job, the former Boston trial lawyer and assistant U.S. attorney has formed a general impression on how his command will work.

“There are business issues, maybe on television, marketing or promotional issues where I might lay alternatives and make recommendations, and hope they have significant faith and trust in my judgment to support me,” Kelly said. “But on game issues, players are in a far better position than I am. It’s incumbent upon me to get a sense of the majority.”

more

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa, Paul+Kelly,

Grimson Gone From NHLPA

by Paul on 11/26/07 at 09:38 PM
Comments (0)

via TSN,

The NHL Players’ Association and Stu Grimson, a former player who was legal counsel with the NHLPA, have parted ways.

It is not clear whether Grimson was fired or resigned, but he is no longer working with the Association.

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa, Stu+Grimson,

Instigator- Yay Or Nay

by Paul on 11/23/07 at 07:41 AM
Comments (6)

from Darren Dreger of TSN,

NHL Players Association Executive Director Paul Kelly and his entourage have visited with seven of the league’s 30 teams on their fall tour.

Issues discussed include bigger nets, smaller goalie equipment and mandatory visors, to name a few. But the one topic that interests players most right now is removal of the instigator penalty.

continued

New Postion For Lindros With The NHLPA

by Paul on 11/11/07 at 08:28 PM
Comments (1)

from the NHLPA,

The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) Executive Board today announced the appointment of Eric Lindros to the newly created Ombudsman position and the promotion of Associate Counsel Ian Penny to the role of General Counsel.

As Ombudsman, a new position created under the recently ratified NHLPA Constitution, Lindros will serve as a non-voting member of the Executive Board and will supervise and coordinate the activities of the Divisional Player Representative program.Lindros will also receive and resolve any complaints by members and/or staff of the Association.He will report directly to the Executive Board.

continued

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: Eric+Lindros, nhlpa, ombudsman,

Paul Kelly Would Like “Widespread” TV Coverage Of The NHL

by Paul on 11/05/07 at 04:59 PM
Comments (4)

from Stan Fischler at MSG Network, (Paul) Kelly wants to canvass his constituency to get an overall feel for the membership’s thinking. One thing he emphasized to us is his desire to see more widespread TV coverage in the U.S.

He didn’t mention ESPN by name, but rather by implication that a renewed marriage between the biggest sports network and Bettman, Inc. would be highly desirable. It’s tough to argue that point!

more from The Maven…

NHLPA Ratifies a New Constitution Today

by Alanah on 10/30/07 at 07:17 PM
Comments (0)

From the NHLPA,

The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) today announced that the members of the NHLPA have ratified a new constitution by way of secret ballot. The announcement marks the end of a thorough review process that began in March of 2006....

Among the significant changes,the new constitution eliminates the Executive Committee, which was comprised of the President and Vice-President positions, leaving the 30 Club Player Representatives to serve as equal voting members of the Executive Board. Also, the positions of Executive Director and General Counsel, which have traditionally been held by the same person, will now be divided between two individuals.

continued...

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

Paul Kelly Not “Progressive”

by Alanah on 10/29/07 at 11:54 AM
Comments (6)

From Damien Cox’s The Spin,

The early guess is that Paul Kelly is about honesty, not about change. Indeed, the new NHL Players Association boss probably just needs not to open other people’s emails and he’ll do fine.

A progressive thinker, however, he apparently is not.

In fact, with respect to the game itself, it turns out Kelly is a bit of closet Neanderthal, something he revealed Saturday night in an intriguing interview with Ron MacLean on Hockey Night in Canada.

Kelly said that not only does he believe fighting is part of hockey, he strongly believes in the necessity of enforcers to “self-police” the game.

continued...

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa, Paul+Kelly,

Linden vs Chelios

by Alanah on 10/29/07 at 12:47 AM
Comments (1)

From Iain Macintyre at the Vancouver Sun,

Eleven years ago, when the Vancouver Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in overtime, Trevor Linden got into Chris Chelios’s face after the winning goal and the pair tussled.

Chelios threw the first punch and, after the players were separated, accused Linden of covering up and refusing to fight. And that was the high point of their relationship. It has devolved the last two years as Chelios leads his crusade for justice within a National Hockey League Players’ Association that Linden, as the union’s former president, led through a labour war that scuttled the 2004-05 season.

Sunday, Linden seemed ready for the fight.

“It’s easy to pile on,” Linden said before facing Chelios and the Detroit Red Wings Sunday night at GM Place. “I will say this: I’m extremely proud of the decisions the [NHLPA] executive committee made. I think we made, in very difficult times, good decisions for the players.”

continued...

History Repeats According To Chelios

by Paul on 10/24/07 at 09:07 PM
Comments (0)

from the Detroit Free Press,

“I’m very happy with our choice of Paul Kelly. I’m looking forward to working with him and having him represent us as a union. At least we have a leader now, and we’ll look for direction from him.”

Chelios said Kelly’s arrival was reminiscent of Goodenow taking over in 1992 for the disgraced Alan Eagleson.

“I look back,” Chelios said, “and it was the same thing when we hired Bob Goodenow — we’d gone through a lot in the Eagleson era, and then Bob was hired — pretty much same situation, basically. It’s history repeating itself. Look at what he did for us. Hopefully, Paul Kelly can follow that same path that we did with Bob.”

more

Lindros Makes No Mention Of Returning To The Game

by Paul on 10/24/07 at 06:59 PM
Comments (0)

from Pierre LeBrun of the CP via the Globe and Mail,

Lindros said Wednesday he would welcome a chance to work for the union in whatever role.  “I would look forward to something along those lines. This has been really interesting. I’ve learned a lot about the other side of things.”

more on the work Lindros has done with the NHLPA…

Update 11:15pm ET (by Alanah):
From Darren Dreger at TSN,

He hasn’t made it official yet, but Eric Lindros is calling it quits and – if all things work out for him, he’s headed toward a new career with the NHLPA.

Following Paul Kelly’s introduction as Executive Director of the Player’s Association, Eric Lindros stated bluntly his playing career is behind him - with too many health issues to entertain the notion of a return.

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: Eric+Lindros, nhlpa,

Paul Kelly Officially Named NHLPA Executive Director

by Alanah on 10/24/07 at 12:27 PM
Comments (0)

From the NHLPA,

The search process, conducted by a five-member committee of NHLPA members and the executive search firm Reilly Partners of Chicago, culminated with the introduction of Kelly at today’s media conference in Toronto.

“It is a distinct honour and privilege to be chosen by the players to serve as the Executive Director of their union,” said Kelly “I look forward to advocating tirelessly for the membership as we prepare to enter what I believe will be an exciting and prosperous new chapter for the NHLPA.

more...

added 1:01pm, from Allan Maki of the Globe and Mail,

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa, Paul+Kelly,

What Paul Kelly Must Do

by Paul on 10/24/07 at 09:26 AM
Comments (0)

from Jim Kelley at Sportsnet,

Kelly’s to-do list must begin with making certain the players get what they are entitled to under the current CBA. He also needs to restructure the business end of NHLPA and its licensing arm (something that has fallen into the leadership abyss) and he needs to tell Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bil Daly where to stuff it when they try something wrong-headed, non-sensical or illegal.

On top, he needs to find a way to keep some 700 members interested enough in the process so that the league no longer views then as little more than mobile skate racks (mostly of the unheated variety). Do that and the union will be on track to handle the next negotiation with the kind of unity the management might respect.

read on

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa, paul+kelly,

NHL, NHLPA and NFL Sponsoring Concussion Study

by Alanah on 10/21/07 at 12:59 PM
Comments (3)

From Medical News Today,

The National Football League, National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Player’s Association have agreed to sponsor an educational program on sports concussions developed by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Consisting of a series of educational DVDs, this program is targeted to amateur and professional players, parents, physicians and coaches, and will provide information on how to recognize concussive injuries, seek proper evaluation, and follow appropriate return to play guidelines.

continued...

*Related: the National Athletic Trainer’s Association has a list of 10 Tips to reduce the severity of sports-related concussions, plus a study titled “How Many Concussions is too Many?” [PDF]

Be Your Own Man

by Paul on 10/21/07 at 08:11 AM
Comments (2)

from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,

Even before the players had finished voting on the nomination of Paul Kelly to become the NHLPA’s new executive director, the presumptive leader of the union was being warned last week by members of the Canadian media to seek compromise in his dealings with the league, not to be confrontational, and last but not least, not to become a clone of Bob Goodenow, for goodness sakes.

Right, that’s all the players need, someone like Goodenow to look after their interests rather than his own, the way Alan Eagleson did and Ted Saskin appears in many cases to have done, though in no way approaching the felonious maneuverings of the man Kelly helped prosecute as assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

continued

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

Coming Soon To A Website Near You

by Paul on 10/19/07 at 09:12 AM
Comments (1)

from Loose Change at the Hockey News,

Basically, enough is enough. There’s a critical mass in most everything in life and the innate ability to recognize when you’ve indeed reached that point is as important as knowing the precise time to let go of a hand grenade.

NHLPA IV is set to open soon and frankly, I think the franchise is already dead....

You probably remember the original NHLPA I: The Evil Empire versus The Embezzler. In that classic (filming started in 1967), the National Hockey League battled the original version of the PA in a timeless David versus Goliath tale.

read on

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

NHLPA Will Dig Deep

by Paul on 10/18/07 at 09:54 AM
Comments (4)

from Adam Proteau of the Hockey News,

Regardless of whether Meehan is a target for decertification, it is clear some player agents believe the union – and rumored new executive director Paul Kelly – must go beyond a report from investigator Sheila Block and further delve into the circumstances that led to Saskin replacing predecessor Bob Goodenow as NHLPA chief.

Minnesota-based agent Neil Sheehy is one of those people.

“The Block Report established that there were a lot of documents that were shredded, and hard drives that were destroyed,” Sheehy told TheHockeyNews.com. “So the question is, how do we get all the information out?

read on

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

Kelly Will Be The Voice Of the Players

by Paul on 10/17/07 at 02:34 PM
Comments (2)

from Jim Kelley at Sportsnet,

Thanks to Chelios and the members of the search committee, the NHLPA is working toward remaking itself into a voice that must be heard regarding the best interests of the players and, perhaps even the best interest of the game.

If Kelly does become the new boss of the NHLPA, it’s clear that he won’t be just like the old boss (Saskin) or even the boss before him (Goodenow) and certainly nothing like the boss before either of those men (Eagleson).

He will be the boss because the players, through due process, will have determined that he is.

much more

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

Paul Kelly’s Plan

by Paul on 10/17/07 at 09:09 AM
Comments (1)

from Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province,

Speaking Tuesday from Boston, where he is in the process of trying to inform his clients of his impending move to take this job if hired, Kelly indicated that if people are thinking the NHLPA is in the process of “hiring a junkyard dog who wants to open everything up with the NHL just for the sake of creating confrontation, they are sadly mistaken.”

At the same time, the days of the patsy Saskin are over.

..."I was flattered when the [headhunting] firm first called me to see if I’d be interested and the more and more I’ve learned, the more and more I want to do this. I would say my interest in this has mushroomed over the past couple of weeks.

more

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

A $10 Million NHLPA Secret Ballot

by Alanah on 10/17/07 at 05:20 AM
Comments (0)

From Rick Westhead at the Toronto Star,

The NHL Players’ Association has offered prospective chief Paul Kelly a five-year, $10 million contract, according to secret ballots that were sent out by the union late yesterday.

The ballots were sent by the union to the NHL’s 30 team player representatives, who will consult with teammates over the next week or so.  The ballots included a term sheet that outlined Kelly’s compensation package. 

The last time the NHLPA held a secret ballot vote it was over former executive director Ted Saskin’s future. Those ballots were returned to the union.

This time around, the ballots will be returned to a Toronto law firm.  Kelly needs the endorsement of 16 of the 30 player reps to be hired.

continued...

Filed in: | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

Uglier By The Day

by Paul on 10/16/07 at 09:30 PM
Comments (4)

from Allan Maki of the Globe and Mail,

There has long been speculation that a group of players, the majority of whom are Meehan clients, sidestepped Goodenow’s no-cap position in an attempt to end the lockout.

If that happened, it’s possible a decertification case could be built against Meehan. A player agent has to be certified by the NHLPA before he or she can represent NHL players.

Meehan could not be reached for comment, but has gone on record expressing his contempt for anyone who would question his character and business reputation.

much more

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

Dear Mr. Kelly

by Paul on 10/16/07 at 09:21 AM
Comments (14)

from Mark Spector of the National Post,

...Because most hockey players come from communities where, if someone’s dad made $150,000, that family was considered wealthy.

Remember that, Mr. Kelly, if the time ever comes where you advise 700 players to start missing pay cheques that are in the neighbourhood of US$1.5-million per season.

But that’s enough advice from a sports writer, Mr. Kelly. If you take the job as leader of NHLPA, you’ll have no shortage of that.

Listen less to those voices and more to hockey fans. Canadian ones in particular, who deserve an economic system like the one in place today, where Calgary and Edmonton can compete on a level playing field with Toronto.

more

Start The War Chant

by Paul on 10/15/07 at 11:26 PM
Comments (3)

from The Maven at MSG Network,

...Already, we’ve heard from one prominent agent who makes it clear that he’ll be surprised if the majority of players allow Kelly to lead them into another no-win war. “There’s too much to lose,” the agent insists. The problem is this: will the small, but dominating, Chelios clique take another one of their macho, war-like stances?

more NHL bits from Stan…

Filed in: NHL Talk, NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

Paul Kelly Closer To Being Named NHLPA Executive Director

by Paul on 10/15/07 at 09:04 PM
Comments (2)

from the NHLPA,

TORONTO (October 15, 2007): The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) Executive Board, which consists of the 30 Player Representatives, held a conference call on Monday evening during which Paul Kelly was nominated for the position of NHLPA Executive Director. The Executive Board will immediately conduct a secret ballot vote.

The NHLPA’s constitution requires that the Executive Director be elected by a majority of the members of the Executive Board. This process will be completed by October 23, 2007.

continued

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

Groundhog Day

by George James Malik on 10/14/07 at 12:45 PM
Comments (11)

For those of us who’ve been laughed at as “conspiracy theorists” and league-critical cynics of a Larry Brooks-like pedigree, Saturday was our Groundhog Day.

As in, we got to peek out of our little bunkers, point at our long shadows, and say, “We told you so.”

We told you that the lockout was about franchise equity, and the concept that a franchise’s bank value would increase exponentially when viewed as an entity with “cost certainty"--theoretically capped costs in terms of salary expenditures, directly tied to league-wide revenues, which effectively renders whether an individual team makes or loses money at the gate, in terms of ticket sales-vs.-expenditures, irrelevant.

Continue Reading »

NHLPA To Become Strong Again

by Paul on 10/14/07 at 07:44 AM
Comments (0)

from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,

Gary Bettman, who spent the lockout trying to break the NHLPA (and would have succeeded if not for the efforts of people such as Chris Chelios, Trent Klatt, Steve Larmer and Eric Lindros), recently went on the record insisting he believes in and welcomes a strong union across from him at the table.

Well, the commissioner is going to get what he wished for, because once Paul Kelly, the former assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, becomes NHLPA executive director, that’s exactly what the union will again become.

continued

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa, Paul+Kelly,

Three Finalists Named For NHLPA Exec. Director

by Paul on 10/13/07 at 03:36 PM
Comments (0)

from Rick Westhead of the Toronto Star,

The NHL Players Association has narrowed its search for a new executive director down to three finalists: former U.S. attorney Paul Kelly, NFL Players Association lawyer Richard Berthelsen, and Bill Gregson, president and chief executive of sports store chain Forzani Group.

It’s expected that the union will hold a conference call on Monday. During the call, a five-player search committee will recommend the union hire Kelly, who, as a prosecutor, spearheaded the investigation of union founder Alan Eagleson.

continued

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

Will NHLPA Distance Itself From The League

by Paul on 10/13/07 at 06:34 AM
Comments (2)

from Rick Wethead of the Toronto Star

During Saskin’s tenure at the union, emails reveal that NHL chief legal officer and deputy commissioner Bill Daly passed on to Saskin several suggestions about which players and union staff might be conspiring against him. Other emails reveal Saskin had become especially close to Daly and Gary Bettman after his hiring.

In advance of a meeting in Russia in autumn 2006, Saskin emailed the NHL commissioner: “Looks like Bill is getting the Moscow trip in September; I may send Chelios.”

In a response the same day Bettman deadpanned: “With a one-way ticket (cc not bd)?”

read on… getting ugly again folks…

Search For NHLPA Leader Down To Three

by Paul on 10/12/07 at 12:58 PM
Comments (0)

from Allan Maki of the Globe and Mail,

After considering and interviewing more than a dozen candidates, the NHLPA’s five-man search committee has whittled its list down to three finalists.

While the identity of the three remains a well-kept secret, there is speculation former U.S. prosecutor Paul Kelly is a prime candidate. He was an important participant in bringing former NHLPA executive director Alan Eagleson to trial for fraud and embezzlement.

Neither of the other two candidates are hockey agents (as Eagleson and his successor Bob Goodenow were) while one is a Canadian.

read on

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa,

I Don’t Even Want To Type The Word

by Paul on 10/08/07 at 09:24 PM
Comments (9)

from The Maven of MSG Network,

This news might get stuck in your craw but it has to be reported nonetheless. Another NHL Work Stoppage could very well happen when it’s time for the NHLPA to renew the current CBA.The angst centers on two critical areas:

1. Choice of the next union boss;

2. Whether the small but vocal Chris Chelios-led militant unionists control the show.

read on and more NHL talk from Stan…

Filed in: NHL Talk | KK Hockey
Tags: cba, nhlpa,

Hockey Fights Cancer

by Alanah on 10/02/07 at 02:26 PM
Comments (0)

From NHL.com

The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association, together with Getty Images and Greystone Books have published Reflections on a Hockey Season: The 2007 NHL Year in Photographs. [...] The first of an annual visual celebration, the book chronicles the highlights and candid, behind-the-scenes images from the 2006-2007 NHL season.

Photos and more descriptive info below:

Continue Reading »

The Right NHLPA Leader Is Critical

by Paul on 09/23/07 at 09:25 AM
Comments (0)

from Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province,

As the Vancouver Canuck players prepare for the oncoming season, one of the last things on their mind is union politics, and rightfully so.

But over the next few months they’d better start to get serious because they’ll be voting on a new leader or leaders and that decision is going to be absolutely critical to their long-term interests.

continued

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey
Tags: nhlpa, vancouver+canucks,

NHLPA Recorded Phone Calls

by Paul on 09/17/07 at 10:44 AM
Comments (1)

from Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal (paid sub.),

Former NHL Players’ Association executive directors Bob Goodenow and Ted Saskin routinely tape-recorded players, agents, NHL officials such as NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and officials of other sports unions, including NFL Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw, without their permission or knowledge, according to a report issued to NHLPA members last month....

The report also details a taped conversation between Daly and Saskin in October 2004, which Daly said was recorded without his knowledge. Last week, Daly wrote in an e-mail , “I’m not prepared to comment on the ‘ethics’ of the practice. But apparently, it was a practice that Bob (Goodenow) endorsed and may even have been insisted on.”

Daly blasted the report, saying, “To the extent anyone reads the Block report and treats its conclusions as ‘gospel’ — i.e., that they are factual — they are making a big mistake,” Daly wrote in an e-mail.

Thanks go out to Sports Business Journal for allowing KK members and guests to read the full article