Saskin could be in deep trouble!

[DRAPES RULES 7]

NHL's Player Association Director Hit With Possible Email Scandal

March 9, 2007 7:06 a.m. EST

Todd Sikorski - All Headline News Sports Reporter

Toronto, Canada (AHN) - The hockey world was hit with a rather bizarre public relations problem on Thursday. Surprisingly, it had nothing to do with the whole Penguins-city of Pittsburgh dilemma or the recent controversial violent play that has sent various NHLers to hospitals. Instead, NHL's union head Ted Saskin has been accused of tapping into players' email accounts in order to find out about people who opposed his hiring in 2005.

The allegations are so severe that insiders say if they are proven true, NHL players might discuss firing Saskin very soon.

The whole incident was first reported in the Toronto Star this week. The newspaper said the Toronto Police Service was investigating claims that Saskin and other members of his office were accessing NHL players' email accounts without their permission.

Saskin responded to the allegations in a statement on this past Monday in which he said "there have been no illegal activities at the NHLPA."

Saskin became head of the player's association back in 2005 when he replaced Bob Goodenow. At the time, his hiring was heavily criticized by such respected NHL players as Chris Chelios and Trent Klatt.

His two-year tenure at the position has not been the most trouble-free either. Along with questions as to how he was hired which happened after hockey's lockout, Saskin's salary has been heavily criticized.

In a sport struggling to survive financially, he is making over $2.13 million a year which is more than double the amount that baseball's Donald Fehr is making at a comparable position.

NHL players are just starting to react to Saskin's allegations. A conference call for players is expected to take place this weekend in which player reps will confer over what to do next.

Saskin is not rumored to be part of the call which leads many to believe a big majority of hockey players have lost their faith in their union's top director and he might be forced out soon.

For that to happen, more than half of the 30 team player representatives in the NHL would have to vote for his firing.

[TheLegend19 1]

This isn't that suprising. The entire NHL has gone down the tubes.

[Flip-check 6]

This isn't that suprising. The entire NHL has gone down the tubes.

Nah, it hasn't. That statement is lazy--all that's happened here is some nhlpa guy becoming suspected of being a ****** and trying to figure out who disapproves of him by questionable means, and maybe about to become caught.

It's no different than a ton of other stuff in life.

[superstarsingh 23]

Chelios will be happy

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

:nonono:

[alienanxiety 23]

The NHL reminds me of the Bush administration these days ... one embarrassing guffaw after another. I wish we could just wipe the slate clean. Fire Bettman, fire Saskin, contract the league, and put HOCKEY minds in power positions ... oh and impeach Bush.

[RainingBlood 8]

WOW THIS IS WORSE THAN WATERGATE

[Guest Crymson]

Saskin =

[betterREDthandead 58]

The state of the NHLPA has nothing to do with the state of the NHL. If the NHLPA catastrophically collapses, the players will form a new union and life will go on. In fact, the financial health of the NHL is probably a little bit inversely proportional to the strength of the PA. Of the four major leagues, the NFL is in the best shape financially, followed by the NBA, MLB, and NHL. That's the exact opposite order of union strength.

[akustyk 84]

The state of the NHLPA has nothing to do with the state of the NHL. If the NHLPA catastrophically collapses, the players will form a new union and life will go on. In fact, the financial health of the NHL is probably a little bit inversely proportional to the strength of the PA. Of the four major leagues, the NFL is in the best shape financially, followed by the NBA, MLB, and NHL. That's the exact opposite order of union strength.

because labor unions are socialism thing and socialism has nothing to do with effectiveness end economical strength. it's all about securing lazy guys asses and "fair" sharing the money.

yep, I'm generalizing, and not exactly trying to nail the issue

[GuloGulo 0]

because labor unions are socialism thing and socialism has nothing to do with effectiveness end economical strength. it's all about securing lazy guys asses and "fair" sharing the money.

yep, I'm generalizing, and not exactly trying to nail the issue

Absolute BS.

This is a hockey board, not a political one. If you wanna take a union vs capitalist debate, I'm more than eager to take it elsewhere.

Thanks to the union the players aren't dirt poor beggars like the 40s, 50s and even 60s generation player ended up when they were flushed out of the game.

[regwinguofmfan 0]

Absolute BS.

This is a hockey board, not a political one. If you wanna take a union vs capitalist debate, I'm more than eager to take it elsewhere.

Thanks to the union the players aren't dirt poor beggars like the 40s, 50s and even 60s generation player ended up when they were flushed out of the game.

Your right, now they are a group of overpaid prima donnas who cant even police themselves.

Much better.

[akustyk 84]

Thanks to the union the players aren't dirt poor beggars like the 40s, 50s and even 60s generation player ended up when they were flushed out of the game.

cool. but it's not 60's anymore and extrapolation of that case to 2000 is not exactly OK.

and actually NHLPA is quite political now itself. see: firing Bob Goodenow which

"miraculously" opened the door for ending lockout

[TheLegend19 1]

Nah, it hasn't. That statement is lazy--all that's happened here is some nhlpa guy becoming suspected of being a ****** and trying to figure out who disapproves of him by questionable means, and maybe about to become caught.

It's no different than a ton of other stuff in life.

I think the entire league is being run by a bunch of douches. Not to many good things have happened since Bettman took helm, but I'm not about to blame the entire current state of the league on him.

It's a feeling that I have that the front office of the league is not being run by the brightest people. Bettman has run the game and the league into the ground in desperate measures to get his marketing techniques to work. Saskin's story doesn't suprise me.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Interestingly, he's trying to put the blame on Bob Goodenow.

I have to say that they need to get rid of Saskin. Too many people (like Chelios) can't stand him and question him, so what good does it do to keep him around?

[Statiklullaby87 0]

how come chelios hates him? jw

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Saskin sent home on paid leave of absence.

[Wings_Rule_1010 4]

Saskin sent home on paid leave of absence.

Hmmm, interesting.

[Mudvayneowns91 0]

WOW THIS IS WORSE THAN WATERGATE

why does your side picture have to be against the broncos?