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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
 Posted - 08/31/2009 : 18:08:35
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As I read and watch through the various reports regarding the the NHLPA's Executive Board(Horcoff, Ferrance, and Chilios) among others involved in the NHLPLA firing basically their head honcho, I am curious on why the NHLPA get's no public credit for how much the are involved in the NHL.
If the Judge in Phoenix burps, there are 25 media releases within seconds. TSN goes live and Sportsnet breaks coverage for their Newsdesk to cover it. However, the Head of the NHLPA gets punted in a matter of hours and an interm replacement is put in and there I have to dig around for the story.
What gives??? I mean, the players (therefore the NHLPA) gets their hands on over 50% of the revenues each year. They have their escrow among other very impactful things to the business of hockey and they are virtually partners.
So why is it that Joe Public doesn't really talke about the NHLPA??
Any thoughts??
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Guest0853
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Posted - 08/31/2009 : 18:41:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Beans15
So why is it that Joe Public doesn't really talke about the NHLPA??
Any thoughts??
Is it me or is this organization a bigger disaster than Phoenix? They've gone through 2 or 3 heads in 3 years. There appears to be a monster power struggle who appears to be working from the inside. Ho hum. You know another firing of the NHLPA head honchos.
Oh look the Leafs have a 70/1 chance of winning the cup. Dany Heatley is being an a$$ again. Those look like a better story line. |
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deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2009 : 19:16:15
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I did not have to dig around for this story at all, Beans - I listen to the the Fan am640 in Toronto, and they were all over it all day, and Bob McCowan was talking about it the whole show basically, with lots of Phoenix/Hamilton calls thrown in.
I find it interesting that in Edmonton they don't cover it as much . . . must be the influence of NHL headquarters being in Toronto as well, I'd think.
Politics for sports fans is not interesting, is my first comment. We are hockey fans first . . . and the business and politics side is rarely interesting to us. The only reason the Hamilton thing is interesting to us is that it isn't just politics and business . . . it's the exciting possibility of another team in southern Ontario. The head of the NHLPA getting canned gives us no such opportunity.
That being said, I know as much as you as to why he was fired . . . McCowan and others have intimated that he didn't have enough of the player's interests at heart, and that he was getting too friendly with the other side. Who knows?
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2009 : 23:46:21
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It's not like it wasn't covered in Edmonton, it just not 'normal news' like various other stories have been.
And I read that the players were not confident that Kelly was the guy to go into the next round of CBA talks in 2011 and apparently want a guy at the helm well before then. They want someone well versed in what the players are looking for in the next contract and not someone wet behind the ears in the position.
But this is the 3rd guy since the lock out to get canned. They have all been canned around controversy.
And what is also very interesting to me is that they all still look like Saints compared to Bettman in the media's and most fan's eyes. |
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Guest5382
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Posted - 09/01/2009 : 07:16:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Beans15
It's not like it wasn't covered in Edmonton, it just not 'normal news' like various other stories have been.
And I read that the players were not confident that Kelly was the guy to go into the next round of CBA talks in 2011 and apparently want a guy at the helm well before then. They want someone well versed in what the players are looking for in the next contract and not someone wet behind the ears in the position.
But this is the 3rd guy since the lock out to get canned. They have all been canned around controversy.
And what is also very interesting to me is that they all still look like Saints compared to Bettman in the media's and most fan's eyes.
Does the NHLPA need someone to negotiate the new contract? Considering the league does a good job of shooting itself in the foot with whatever they negotiated.
24% salary roll back and cost certainty they demanded. Hmm that worked out well considering players on average make more now than before. I wonder what the owners are going to ask for next and how they will come up with ways to circumvent it? |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2009 : 07:58:46
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Beans, it was talked about here in Van on the Team1040 quite a bit yesterday as well. To be honest with you, i don't think a lot of casual hockey fans understand the NHLPA all that well. Throw in the fact that 90% of the casual fan prob couldn't have answered "Who's Paul Kelly?" correctly and you have a simple lack of interest from many.
The main thing they gave as a reason (on the radio) was that the players weren't happy going into negotiations with him as their leader because they felt he was too "close" to Bettman. Guess they get along too well or something? |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 15:23:12
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Wow, this is a bigger story that I think anyone is really looking at right now. Since Kelly got fired, long time NHLPA executive staff Pat Flatley, Bob Lundquist, and now Glen Healy resigned(reportedly). Did anyone else notice that Lindros resigned as Ombudsman for the NHLPA recently (February) and emphatically denies knowing anything about this Kelly firing. Yet, some sources are saying he led the "coup" and that he and Kelly didn't get along and Lindros wanted him gone.
This is big! Healy was apparently a guy that many pegged to be the next head of the NHLPA.
From what 'sources' are telling the media, there were some things that, once known to the player, gave no confidence to the ability of Kelly to move forward and bargin the next CBA. Apparently, the players are looking for a more hard-nosed, confrontational kind of person that is looking for a fight with the NHL. Vincent Damphousse, who was been part of the NHLPA for a while(but is not longer), stated that the players are going in the wrong direction and that someone willing to work a little bit with the NHL and someone able to do the job without people looking over their shoulder is needed.
This might not be huge today, but come 2010/2011 it will. The next CBA is as important as the last and if the two sides can't get along, that means no hockey for us!!! Apparently the league wants to do something about the huge-long term contracts and the players are not happy about the current pay structure and escrow. It works in periods of good financial times, but not so great in a recession.
Stay tuned..... |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 18:40:12
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Oh oh............
Even more details coming out. I'll be the first to admit that I am not a pro-union guy. However, one thing that is never good for either side is when the union is fighting among themselves.
This smells like trouble to me.
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=289866 |
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4809 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 20:52:35
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Quick observation:
Yes, this is big . . . politically, for the NHL, at least. Healy is a major force now in general, what with him being a talking head on TV all over the place, all over radio, etc, and everyone respects him and he has a solid reputation as a genuine and intelligent hockey mind.
Knowing Healy, I am guessing that he was loyal to Kelly, and resigned because of his firing. I predict the story to come out in a few days . . . or potentially later on HNIC? We'll see, but yes, definitely some stuff going on in the background we know little about . . .
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Porkchop73
PickupHockey Pro
640 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 02:33:53
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This is getting real ugly now, this has all the classic signs of power struggle within the union. Some are suggesting Lindros led this charge from behind the scenes. He was not happy when Kelly caught him spending millions of the players money when he was the ombudsmen.
Sounds like the NHLPA executive have some boneheads giving them advice. The NHLPA is making millions of dollars with player endorsements and some people like this Penny guy want a piece of the action.
They better get their act in gear because a union that shows this continual weakness is union that will crumble at the bargaining table. By all accounts Paul Kelly was very good at what he does. He has a less confrontational approach but was very successful. I think this a poor move by the NHLPA, they act before they do the solid homework.
Seems to me there is some power play positioning for jobs inside the NHLPA by people like Lindros and Chelios. Maybe trying to pull the wool over some eyes. |
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4809 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 04:30:49
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Healy's letter of resignation, from Yahoo Sports:
quote:
In a letter to the executive board members of the NHLPA obtained by The Globe and Mail, Healy outlined the reasoning behind his departure:
“It is with a heavy heart today that I write to you to let you know that following the executive board meeting in Chicago this past weekend I have come to the conclusion that I am no longer able to perform my duties as Director, Player Affairs at the Players’ Association. I am resigning from my position effective immediately for reasons that can no longer be ignored or repaired.
“At our executive board meeting an office health assessment was presented to you which was very critical of the work that I have put forth in these past 14 months. This presentation also indicated that I have misled the players and ‘do not tell them the full truth.’ These accusations were made because of comments that I have made to players, in particular about Wayne Gretzky and his contributions and personal sacrifices for the Players’ Association.
” When Wayne Gretzky joined our Group Licensing Agreement in 1992, it made the Players’ Association millions of dollars, has allowed the PA to stand on its own, and allowed every player to prosper. Ian Penny, your interim executive director and general counsel, openly disagreed with my defence of Wayne Gretzky and proceeded to openly criticize Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in front of the executive board, advisory board, Players’ Association employees, the ombudsman, and the great man who started this very association, Ted Lindsay.
“I would never and have not misled or told any untruths to any player. I can not sit back and continue to perform my duties when my Players’ Association co-workers unjustifiably impugn my credibility in front of the players I represent and fire shots against Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, two of the greatest players in the game, who have benefited every player in this Players’ Association.
“Based on what occurred in the executive board meeting in Chicago, including the presentations made, all of which were accepted and endorsed by the executive board, my reputation and credibility with the players has been irreparably harmed and compromised. I can no longer continue to move forward believing that I have the trust of the players.
“After 16 years as a player and representing this association as a player representative, pension board member, and ultimately as Director, Player Affairs, it is with great sadness that I must submit my resignation effective immediately and be resigned to the fact that I am no longer able to perform my duties as Director, Player Affairs, given the events of the past weekend.”
A huge shot at Ian Penney, and just from the impression I have always gotten of Healy, I'd tend to believe his story. He just strikes me as one of those guys with a real sense of honour, a bit of a fighter, and a man who absolutely will not let someone besmirch his or anyone else's reputation whom he respects.
Interesting stuff, no matter what your take on it.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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NHLPA Gets No Props 
