Why Ted Saskin must go (and Linden, and Alfredsson, and Guerin, and....)

Ted Saskin must step aside as head of the NHLPA. And every day that he continues in his post, the case against his leadership just gets stronger and stronger. Here's why.

While the purpose of a union is to ensure fair treatment of all members by an employer, the foundation of a union's strength and legitimacy is found in the broad support of all members - solidarity - and the prinicples of equity and fairness. These principles are protected by established rules of play: agreed upon procedures put in place to guard equal opportunity and an equal voice of all members. Without an equal voice and opportunity for all members, the broad membership support will crumble, which would undermine the union's legitimacy.

A union without solidarity is a union in name only.

Unfortunately for the NHLPA, neither Saskin nor many of the 30 player representatives are respecting these principles or procedures, and the 'PA is suffering as a result.

After fantastically failing in their efforts to avoid a salary cap, the 'PA was in a shambles last summer. There was a lot of dissatisfaction among the rank and file. Bob Goodenow was shown the door. After 18 months of combatting Gary Bettman and his troops, 'PA reps were tired, and, as players, they wanted to avoid any more business wrangling and just get back to playing the game. So, when time came for the players to select a new president for the union, the team representatives decided to go the quick and dirty route, rather than face another battle. Rather than having the decision made through a secret ballot with every player casting a vote, as is called for by the union's own by-laws, the team representatives decided they could make the decision among themselves during a conference call.

The 30 team representatives took it upon themselves to hire Ted Saskin (and offer him a few million per year) without allowing the other 650-plus players in the league to have their voices heard. Now, there is dissension and dissatisfaction within the membership, and it is apparent to all that indeed, solidarity does not currently exist in the NHLPA.

As the interim head of the NHLPA after the ouster of Goodenow, Saskin's job was to get the ship in order. During a time of discontent over the new CBA and waning solidarity among membership, Saskin's job was to strengthen the union, bring the membership together, and have all voices heard.

However, by accepting his "election" as head of the NHLPA, Saskin essentially threw a one fingered salute to the principles of the union movement, to the majority of the players, to the by-laws of the 'PA, and to the hard work of his predecessor. Every day that he remains in his post, he further undermines the legitimacy of the 'PA by saying "the rules apply only sometimes" and "your opinion doesn't count" to the 650-plus who weren't allowed to vote.

The election of Saskin by a procedure decided on-the-fly is akin to a country's President or Prime Minister saying, "No need for an election this time around, my Cabinet has voted me back in, and they know what they're doing."

And Saskin is not alone. The thirty team representatives also have a fiduciary duty to protect the membership, respect the by-laws and rules of procedure, and guard the legitimacy and strength of their union. By disregarding all of this, they too have failed to live up to their responsibilities, and have blood on their hands. Linden, Alfredsson, Guerin, and the rest of them.

In order to save the NHLPA, Ted Saskin and every one of the player representatives needs to step aside, resign from their positions, apologize, and say, "Sorry, let's start fresh. Let's do this again, and let's do it right this time."

During the lockout, there was talk in some NHLPA circles that the NHL was out to break the union. Turns out, the NHL doesn't have to bother. The 'PA is doing it to itself.

Comments

[Henchman]

Whoa, hold on now. The players were exhausted by the strike & deparate to move on. There was no appetite for a protracted campaign to find a new director. Saskin had been a loyal soldier, he was the obvious choice. The dissidents only care about the process, they present no alternatives. Steve Larmer, the leader of the dissidents, shows he does not know his stuff by comparing this to the Eagleson era. At worst, this is an administrative kerfuffle. Unlike Eagleson, neither Saskin nor Linden will end up doing time for any of this.

[Alex]

Man, I wish I could have been a fly-on-the-wall for that conference call...

[Dylan]

I agree with your decision to take out the NHLPA, along with Ted Saskin. If you get anymore info email me!