TORONTO (CP) - Bob Goodenow stepped down as head of the NHL Players' Association on Thursday, saying the time was right to hand the baton to his lieutenant Ted Saskin.
The news comes one week after the players' held their noses and voted in favour of a new labour deal. At the time Goodenow said he enjoyed his work and planned to serve out his contract.
That changed, he said Thursday, after discussions with the NHLPA executive committee. There was always going to be a transition, Goodenow told a news conference. He just "accelerated" the process.
"I've enjoyed very much my involvement and I think that the transition which would have occurred in the future, being moved up as it has been today, is the right step at the right time," he explained.
"There's the old saying, when it feels good and it looks good, go ahead and do it, and that's what we've done."
Goodenow had "a couple of years left" on a contract that reportedly paid him $2.5 million US a year. Apparently a settlement was negotiated to take care of that deal.
"What we've worked out is an accommodation that's satisfactory to everyone," he said.
The hard-nosed Goodenow officially took as NHLPA executive director in 1992, but had been running the show behind the scenes as early as 1991 in the messy departure of Alan Eagleson.
He said he had no immediate plans.
"I have no plans for anything right now. I'm going to take a few months off and think about what I might want to do in the future. I really haven't given it any thought."
Goodenow called his time with the NHLPA "a tremendous pleasure."
"It's a tremendous sport, it's a great group of people and I get to tell you that I think the future is very bright for the sport and for everyone involved in it," he said.
Saskin, the NHLPA's senior director of business affairs and licensing, will succeed Goodenow as executive director and general counsel. Saskin served as the union's lead negotiator on the labour deal, sparring with Bill Daly of the NHL.
Goodenow said Saskin was "uniquely situated" to take over given his work on the collective bargaining agreement.
It is widely believed that the new labour deal, with its salary cap and linkage to league revenues, was not favoured by Goodenow.
But as the lockout wiped out the entire 2004-05 season, players made their voices heard. NHLPA president Trevor Linden stepped in and the union returned to the bargaining table ready to negotiate
On Thursday, Goodenow dismissed a suggestion the agreement was a failure. And he showed some emotion when asked about suggestions he had played a smaller role in the negotiations as the months wore on.
He rejected the suggestion, growing emotional when talking about how a "personal matter" had taken him away from the process at one point.
"My mother passed away last week and I had some days where I was preoccupied," he said.<
In its statement announcing Goodenow's departure, the NHLPA said: "This decision followed discussions between Goodenow and members of the executive committee about the organization's future."
Linden spoke warmly of Goodenow in the statement announcing his departure.
"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."
Linden also praised Saskin in Thursday's statement.
"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."
The moves mean both of the lead negotiators in the labour deal have been promoted: Saskin to executive director and Daly to deputy commissioner.
Commissioner Gary Bettman issued his own statement Thursday.
"I have always respected Bob's tenacity, passion and professionalism, and I wish him well in his future endeavours. We congratulate Ted and look forward to working with him."