The NHLPA announced early Monday morning that it had voted "overwhelmingly" to relieve executive director Paul Kelly of his duties after nearly two years on the job at the groups annual meeting in Chicago. According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Sunday's meeting lasted nearly 10 hours and consisted of heated debates. Kelly had held the position since October 31, 2007. The NHLPA executive board issued the following statement in a press release:
"Following the Executive Board's review of the overall operation of the NHLPA, it was decided that Paul Kelly should no longer continue to serve as Executive Director. We appreciate Mr. Kelly's service to our Association."
Ken Campbell of The Hockey News questions the direction of the NHLPA, and calls the reasons for Kelly's dismissal "so preposterous it risks making the NHL Players' Association the laughingstock of the sports world."
He continued:
The executive director of the NHLPA was on the job and had yet to negotiate a single collective bargaining agreement for his constituents, yet was fired because he hadn't turned every single issue with the league into a turf war. He didn't steal millions of dollars and get convicted of his crimes the way Alan Eagleson did. He didn't get the job under false pretenses and spy on members' emails the way Ted Saskin did. No, the reason why Kelly was fired is that he's not Bob Goodenow, the guy the players dumped when they found he was taking too hard a line against their employers and wouldn't deliver them what he thought was a namby-pamby CBA during the lockout.Still no word on who will replace Kelly, though early speculation seems to point to Buzz Hargrove, Ian Penny or Ron Pink. More on this story as it continues to develop throughout the day.
