If there was no NHLPA, would the players play?

[TheWestWing 71]

NHLPA suspends operations: report

The National Hockey League Players Association has suspended operations, according to radio station reports.

Toronto's 680 News and News 1130 in Vancouver are reporting that the association has ceased operations, including suspension of the union's duties and those of interim executive director Ian Penny.

A request for comment by Canwest News Service from the NHLPA were not immediately returned.

Last week, the NHLPA announced that its executive board voted 25-5 to pass a resolution to have San Jose Shark Rob Blake, Chris Chelios, now playing for the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves, Detroit Red Wing Nicklas Lidstrom and Boston Bruin Mark Recchi form an internal committee to review NHLPA operations.

The NHLPA has come under scrutiny since the firing of former executive director Paul Kelly in late summer.

Gasp!

Edit:

OK Perry did 'resign' but its the ever lovely Nick Kypreos stating the NHLPA "is not a functioning organisation right now."

Edited October 30, 2009 by TheWestWing

[zettie85 106]

I believe they would be forced to play due to there contracts with NHL. I don't really know though.

Edited October 30, 2009 by zettie85

[VM1138 1,921]

Contracts are legally binding, so the players would conitnue to play. I don't know the legal limbo about suspension/dead, but if it were officially dead they would just play out their contracts and not be represented by the union anymore, signing new contracts under different rules.

But this seems to be a simple temporary cessation until they can review operations, so it won't affect much, I don't think, other than maybe caution among GMs when signing new contracts during the season who don't know what will happen.

[Konnan511 1,736]

The NHLPA is just a union. Workers work without being in a union. players play without a union.

[MacK_Attack 108]

The NHLPA is just a union. Workers work without being in a union. players play without a union.

Yeah, but does it mean the CBA is (temporarily) void? I mean, if one side of an agreement ceases to operate, does that agreement still exist? Is it legally enforceable?

Edited October 30, 2009 by MacK_Attack

[VM1138 1,921]

Yeah, but does it mean the CBA is void? I mean, if one side of an agreement ceases to operate, does that agreement still exist?

I'm not a lawyer, but I think the CBA would remain until it expires, I don't think contracts expire just because one of the parties does.

But it certainly means the League could drop the idea of a cap if it wanted to later on.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Contracts are legally binding, so the players would conitnue to play. I don't know the legal limbo about suspension/dead, but if it were officially dead they would just play out their contracts and not be represented by the union anymore, signing new contracts under different rules.

But this seems to be a simple temporary cessation until they can review operations, so it won't affect much, I don't think, other than maybe caution among GMs when signing new contracts during the season who don't know what will happen.

They better get their s*** together soon, because the CBA expires after next season.

[Guest Shoreline]

WTF is going on with the PA?

[zettie85 106]

WTF is going on with the PA?

www.tsn.ca

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Ian Penny's letter to the NHLPA; from cbc dot ca . He's not a big fan of Mr. Chelios.

[WpgMikos 17]

Ian Penny's letter to the NHLPA; from cbc dot ca . He's not a big fan of Mr. Chelios.

Mr. Penny needs to learn to use email. Since he sent two emails (one claiming to resign the other saying he'd work with the NHLPA).

The entire operation needs to be blown up and started from scratch. Time to call Alan Eagleson. hehe.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Mr. Penny needs this .

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

From TSN :

The NHLPA's Review Committee sent a memo to all National Hockey League players last night outlining how they expect the union's office to conduct business and run smoothly, at least on a short term basis.

Mike Ouelett, the PA's director of business affairs will temporarily assume the functions of the executive director, while associate counsel, Roland Lee will temporarily assume the role of general counsel.

Neither Ouelett nor Lee have been appointed to either position on an "interim" basis; rather, they will fulfill their roles until the executive board can conduct its next conference call, scheduled for November 9th.

...

Being the head of the NHLPA is like being the drummer of Spinal Tap.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Goodbye, Basil; from TSN :

The resignations continue at the National Hockey League Players' Association.

On Sunday, Buzz Hargrove announced that he is leaving his post as interim Ombudsman for the NHLPA. He had held the role since March 1, 2009 after serving on the Advisory Board for five months prior to that. Eric Lindros was Ombudsman before Hargrove.

"After much reflection I have come to the conclusion that under the current circumstances at the NHLPA that I can not perform the duties of Ombudsman as outlined in the NHLPA constitution," said Hargrove in a media release. "Therefore I am resigning as interim ombudsman effective immediately."

Hargrove was the last remaining member of the NHLPA's eight-member Advisory Board. All of the others had resigned in recent weeks in a flurry of dissatisfaction over the direction of the Association. On Oct. 30, Interim Executive Director Ian Penny parted ways with the organization, and in the days following Steve Larmer quit his spot on the Advisory Board along with Ron Pink, Ian Troop and Ken Baumgartner. Outside counsel Paul Cavalluzzo also resigned.

...

From Toronto Star :

...

While Hargrove is out, the NHLPA has retained Major League Baseball union chief Donald Fehr in an unpaid advisory role. On a conference call Sunday, Fehr was asked to help in the development of a new union constitution and to advise the search committee looking for a new executive director.

Also on the call, Chris Chelios fought off an attempt to have him removed from the four-player committee assigned to investigate union matters from recent months, including the firing of executive director Paul Kelly. Mark Recchi, Rob Blake and Nicklas Lidstrom are the other players on the committee.

...

[mjlegend 155]

Somewhere Paul Kelly Gary Bettman is laughing his ass off.

True that.

[RedWings Gone Wild 6]

The players won't stop playing... if anything, the NHLPA's mess means it is more likely they would continue playing (hard to get the solidarity necessary to stop playing with a splintered union)... The CBA is still 100% functional until it expires. However, if the players don't get the union together before the CBA expires one of two things will happen: A. they will be a mess at the negotiating table and we'll have to slug our way through another year of nothing. or B. they'll get ridiculously taken advantage of by the owners.

Neither of which is good longterm for the NHL.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

In the continuing soap opera known as the NHLPA...from TSN :

A committee has been formed to review and very likely rewrite the National Hockey League PA's constitution.

Dallar Stars goaltender Marty Turco, Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, along with Florida Panthers forward Dominic Moore and Buffalo's Steve Montador have been appointed by the PA's executive board to conduct a thorough study of the union's constitution, as well as determine any necessary changes.

Sources say the group of four will begin their work in the very near future, a project one NHL player says will be the first step in the rebuilding of a strong union.

It's believed the committee will identify alleged problem areas in the existing constitution, such as the advisory board and whether this level of management is necessary.

...

[Rivalred 630]

I would like to direct attention to this thread here also

http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...20&start=20

Interesting developments for sure...

[selkie 10]

From TSN :

Being the head of the NHLPA is like being the drummer of Spinal Tap.

Or a Red Wings defenseman not named Lidstrom.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

This name keeps popping up; from Toronto Star :

Donald Fehr, perhaps the most powerful union leader in professional sports, is going to help the NHL Players' Association write a new constitution and find a new executive director.

Fehr, who is leaving his post as executive director of Major League Baseball Players' Association, insists he doesn't want the hockey job.

"I'm leaving my post in baseball because I've been doing this for 32 years. I want to go sit on beaches," said Fehr. "I'm not looking for a full-time job."

Fehr, 61, should help bring some stability to the NHLPA, which is in tatters.

...

[beepbeep 3]

I don't have any respect for this s*** union. It is nothing but a money driven bag of s***. There is ZERO intrest in the SAFTY of the players or integrity of the game, the schedules, affordability of the game to the FANS, nothing but how much f***in money they can get their greedy hands on. Everbody has to be a f***in multi-millionaire. Screw the fan, screw the people that pay their wages. Screw everything as long as the money rolls.