Report: NHL union members to discuss firing Saskin

[rafikz]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2791722

ESPN.com news services

NHL players are expected to discuss firing players' association executive director Ted Saskin and another top union official in the wake of a Toronto newspaper report claiming union executives tapped into players' e-mail accounts to spy on opponents of Saskin's hiring.

The Star reported this week that the Toronto Police Service had begun investigating NHL player and union staff member complaints that Saskin and union executive Ken Kim have been clandestinely reading e-mail sent and received by anti-Saskin union members.

A conference call will be held Sunday, Montreal Canadiens forward and team player rep Mike Johnson confirmed to the Star. Two sources familiar with the union's plans told the newspaper that neither Saskin nor Kim are expected to be on the call.

"Even if these allegations aren't true, this has been very troubling for players," Johnson told the Star. "A number of players are talking about it and want answers."

The sources familiar with the union's plans also said former NHL player Stu Grimson, who now is a lawyer for the NHLPA, will participate in the call and confirm to the league's 30 team player reps that personal player e-mail accounts have been "routinely compromised."

In a statement released Monday, Saskin said his executive committee remained "confident that there have been no illegal activities at the NHLPA."

Sixteen of the 30 NHL team player reps would have to support firing Saskin or Kim.

"The players will have to make a decision on what they want to do," a source told the Star. "It's not going to be an easy decision."

Saskin's ability to lead the union has been challenged on many occasions during his two-year tenure. The most recent example before this week came Feb. 25, when a majority of the 30 union-player reps approved an independent investigation into Saskin's hiring.

The investigation "will preserve the integrity of our NHLPA constitution and leadership process," Mathieu Schneider, a Detroit Red Wings defenseman and interim NHLPA executive committee member, said then. "The purpose of the investigation is to clear the air, produce clarity on these questions and fortify a strong unified union."

News of that investigation came three days after a lawsuit against Saskin and others was dismissed by a U.S. federal court in Illinois. The judge agreed with the NHLPA position that Ontario rather than Illinois should host such a lawsuit, if indeed it was even warranted.

A growing group of players, which now numbers 70, led by Chris Chelios, Dwayne Roloson and Trent Klatt has sought Saskin's removal since he took over from Bob Goodenow following the lockout.

Saskin is under a five-year contract that is paying him an average $2.13 million annually, another complaint of the union's membership in this era of the NHL salary cap; Saskin's salary is roughly double that of Don Fehr, who is head of the Major League Baseball Players' Association.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[beliveau1]

Given the situation they may need to a fresh start - this union just seems to keep shooting itself in the foot?

[Athlétique.Canadien]

The NHLPA involved in illegal activity? I don't believe it.

Next thing we are going to hear is that John Gotti truly was guilty.

[Mr. Nasty]

Saskin says that he wasn't the one monitoring e-mails. It was Goodenow. I would love to hear that it was Goodenow just to make Chelios and his bashers eat crow. Goodenow also completely ruined the PA.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp...308_103300_6524