Bob Goodenow Resigns

Bob Goodenow will step down as NHLPA Executive Director and General Counsel, after discussions with members of the Executive Committee about the organization's future. Says Goodenow:

"With the conclusion of the negotiations and the ratification of the new agreement, the parties concur that this is an appropriate action for the future. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve the Players over the past 15 years and to have had the support of a tremendous staff at the NHLPA. I wish the Players every success under the new CBA."

The NHLPA named Ted Saskin, previously its Senior Director of Business Affairs and Licensing, to succeed Goodenow. Says Ted Saskin:

"I have enjoyed working closely with Bob for the Players over the last 15 years. I know how dedicated Bob has been to the Players. I plan to continue to serve them by building on the strong base that Bob created at the NHLPA."

Says Trevor Linden, NHLPA president:

"Every NHL Player has benefited enormously from Bob's leadership and dedication. He has been a tireless advocate for the Players and he dramatically improved the Players' situation in every respect. Bob built the NHLPA into a first class organization and we are all very grateful to him. Ted has worked closely with Bob every step of the way and has done an excellent job for the Players in our recently concluded CBA negotiations. We have every confidence that he will be able to lead our Association well in the years to come."

While not something being speculated on lately, this comes as pretty expected. Almost 80% of the NHLPA broke rank with Goodenow's hardline stance in the CBA vote when Goodenow refused to personally endorse it. He obviously isn't a good representative of the players at that point, and I'm sure they asked him to resign before formally firing him. Now I know everyone's going to say "one down, one to go" in reference to calling for Gary Bettman to resign as well, but I just don't see that happening. He just won a landslide victory for the owners, and from that he enjoys overwhelming support from the Board of Governors.