Kelly Out at NHLPA

This was the best kept secret in hockey and just leaked out a few days before Kelly was let go by the NHL players association. It seemed Kelly never understood his role as head boss of the NHLPA. He always was in the paper and in the media giving his opinions on what cities the NHL should go to and what networks they should be on. He sounded more like a Commissioner then a Union boss. Gary Bettman is going to move teams and do television deals in spite of what the union head says so I never understood the point of Kelly always trying to one up Bettman. The NHLPA Union head needs to protect the players from unjust management decisions both on the team level and the league level. Many times the league will soften a penalty or dismiss it when the union gets involved that’s his job. Also he or she needs to keep the NHL players making money in these tough economic times not only through the negotiations of the CBA but also in marketing players to corporate sponsors, licensees and television people. The next Union head should be a marketing person that can make money in between the CBA years. There are plenty of lawyers around to make sure the NHL is in compliance with the current CBA.