The Only Thing We Have to Fehr

[MFS62]

is moving on to become head of the NHL Players' Association.
http://www.nesn.com/2010/08/report-donald-fehr-agrees-to-become-head-of-nhl-players-association.html

I'm thinking it can't be about creating new jobs.
NHL teams already have designated hitters.

Later

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Nice one!!!

[metirish]

Fehr can jump right in to the Ilya Kovalchuk mess. On Monday an arbitrator ruled that the NHL was within it's rights to void that contract he had signed with the NJ Devils.

[batmagadanleadoff]

metirish wrote: Fehr can jump right in to the Ilya Kovalchuk mess. On Monday an arbitrator ruled that the NHL was within it's rights to void that contract he had signed with the NJ Devils.

Did Kovalchuk beat up his girlfriend's father?

[metirish]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: metirish wrote: Fehr can jump right in to the Ilya Kovalchuk mess. On Monday an arbitrator ruled that the NHL was within it's rights to void that contract he had signed with the NJ Devils. Did Kovalchuk beat up his girlfriend's father?

Probably not

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

No shit?

[Guest attgig]

MFS62 wrote: I'm thinking it can't be about creating new jobs. NHL teams already have designated hitters.

badumm ching~!

[Frayed Knot]

Be interesting to see how Fehr to the NHL works out.
That union has such a history of internal corruption that simply by being honest (and I don't recall claims where he wasn't) the atmosphere can't do anything but improve, At the same time though he's going to find out (and certainly already knows) that 'Versus' money and their local cable contracts aren't the same as MLB's networks + their local deals, and that this country puts up a collective yawn if/when something threatens to take their hockey away from them.

What would be REALLY interesting would be if Fehr - or some other outsider with his kind of track record in labor negotiations - ever got named to take over the NFL player's union.
To be fair it's too soon to judge if their new guy is less accommodating to the owners than Gene Upshaw usually was. But the history over there is so screwed up I could see the players' union responding to the owners' plan to increase the season to 18 games by arguing; "OK, we'll take on the extra work load but only if you agree to cut our salaries by 10%"

[ashie62]

Frayed Knot wrote: Be interesting to see how Fehr to the NHL works out. That union has such a history of internal corruption that simply by being honest (and I don't recall claims where he wasn't) the atmosphere can't do anything but improve, At the same time though he's going to find out (and certainly already knows) that 'Versus' money and their local cable contracts aren't the same as MLB's networks + their local deals, and that this country puts up a collective yawn if/when something threatens to take their hockey away from them. What would be REALLY interesting would be if Fehr - or some other outsider with his kind of track record in labor negotiations - ever got named to take over the NFL player's union. To be fair it's too soon to judge if their new guy is less accommodating to the owners than Gene Upshaw usually was. But the history over there is so screwed up I could see the players' union responding to the owners' plan to increase the season to 18 games by arguing; "OK, we'll take on the extra work load but only if you agree to cut our salaries by 10%"

What history of internal corruption? have not seen that in print.

[Guest Edgy DC]

While Fehr would make an excellent contrast to Upshaw, he'll be an interesting change for the NHL also, as that union has been historically averse to walkouts. The owners have tended to intiate most work stoppages in the NHL, including one lockout that led to the cancellation of an entire year --- the only such cancellation of its kind.

The Saskin era was a damn shame, as Bob Goodenow had gone so far in undoing the damage that Alan Eagleson had brought to the union's credibility.

It's usually a good thing for union leadership not to stay on too long. The effectiveness wanes after a contract or two once they've made it clear where they stand, what they're willing to fight for, and what they're willing to trade on. What doesn't wane is their susceptiblity to corruption or bedfellowing.

[Frayed Knot]

Ashie62 wrote: What history of internal corruption? have not seen that in print.

Mostly the Alan Eagleson era which Edgy mentions.
He started as one of the first agents in hockey, eventually representing a large pct of the players in the league (particularly some of the bigger stars) but at the same time had his hand in just about every other aspect of hockey life (running tournaments, head of the player's assoc, etc.). Imagine Scott Boras only with more power. And then, as if doing all that wasn't enough of a conflict of interest, it turned out he was robbing the union and some of his clients blind while doing it. Eventually went to jail for it IIRC.

The union hasn't been as corrupt since he was ousted but also not all that efficient either.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Eagleson --- also a politician while running the union, among other professions and other rackets --- was convicted in two countries, sent to jail, an fined a large amount of money, but they continued to fine fraud and abuse after he finished his sentence. As dependent as some big shots can be on their players, some of his biggest victims were also his biggest defenders, including Marcel Dionne and Bobby Clarke. He's one of only four people removed from the highly prestigious Order of Canada. He also resigned from the Hockey Hall of Fame after several prominent players --- Orr, Hull, Howe, Bossy, demigods really --- threatened to resign if he wasn't removed. Not everyone loves their abuser. (For contrast's sake, note that O.J. Simpson still remains in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.)

He was so big that the executive directorship of the NHLPA was initially left vacant after he resigned. If not him, than who?