TORONTO (CP) - Eric Lindros says he's got nothing against Ted Saskin.
Lindros and Toronto Maple Leafs teammate Ed Belfour are members of a group of dissident NHLers fighting the way in which Saskin was hired as the new executive director of the NHL Players' Association.
Belfour and Lindros have added their signatures to a group of 28 players led by Trent Klatt and Chris Chelios. On Wednesday, the group filed a charge with the U.S.-based National Labor Relations Board about what they feel was the improper hiring of Saskin.
"The bottom line is that it's nothing personal against Ted," Lindros said Thursday after Maple Leafs practice. "We all know what Ted has done for the Association in the past and are thankful for it. It's just the process that took place wasn't, in many eyes, up to standards, it wasn't the correct process. And that's what we're having an issue with.
"And I think if we cleared it up and do the proper procedure, Ted's probably back in there anyway. But we want a clean slate and want to do it properly and no longer have any skeletons in the closet."
Saskin, who appears to have the support of the overwhelming majority of NHL players and agents, tried to appease the group when he decided to hold a re-vote of his hiring. Players reps around the league were sent ballots in the mail two weeks ago. Many of them have been returned but not all, including Toronto's.
Saskin was first elected on a conference call vote by the player reps and executive committee Aug. 31. The vote was 31-6. But the NHLPA bylaws stipulate a secret ballot vote needs to be taken so Saskin decided to hold the vote over again.
Klatt, a member of the NHLPA's executive committee until he retired two weeks ago, is spearheading the dissident group along with Chelios - who on Thursday met with Saskin in Detroit along with his Red Wings teammates.
"I support what Chris and Trent are trying to do, I believe they're trying to do the right thing for the union in the long run," said Belfour.
On the other hand, Belfour didn't seem totally clear on the matters at hand. When asked why the re-vote via secret ballot wasn't enough to end this, he responded: "I don't believe that's happening, I don't know anything about that."
Dominik Hasek, Glen Murray, Brian Leetch and Shawn McEachern were other names on the document filed through Bob Lanza, the lawyer they hired to lead their fight.
"There were certain things that I personally think did not go the right way," Hasek told reporters in Ottawa on Thursday. "I want to find out exactly what happened and just want to make sure everything was legal."
Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, a member of the NHLPA's executive committee who voted to hire Saskin, isn't pleased with what's transpiring.
"I don't think it's been good the way it's been happening, with our information out in the media," Alfredsson said. "But at the same time we need to get through this. It's a democratic process and everyone has their say."
The issue may finally come to an end when and if the NLRB rules on the charge. And there's no telling how quickly that will happen.
Saskin said Wednesday night that "the charge has no merit whatsoever. It is regrettable that the individuals responsible for filing the charge have chosen to take this step at a time when NHLPA player representatives and executive committee members are in the midst of conducting a democratic and fair election.
"This election process, which was agreed to by the full executive board and without any objections, will continue and will not be disrupted by such baseless actions."
Other Leafs who support the dissident group include Tie Domi and Darcy Tucker.
"People want things to be done the proper way and sometimes when it's not people have to step in and do whatever it takes to try and make that happen," said Tucker, who said he was among the 28 players who signed on. "It's in someone else's hands right now and we'll have to wait and see what happens."
Domi isn't among the 28 who signed the document but openly supports Klatt and Chelios.
"They're doing what needs to be done," he said. "Unfortunately, if things were done properly it wouldn't have to come down to this. But they weren't done properly."
Leafs captain Mats Sundin is not on board with the group and has stayed out of it.
"I hear different information from different people what the whole process was and if things were done right or not," he said. "I just haven't paid enough attention to it, I'm just trying to focus on the club and get ready for the season. I'll leave that other stuff to the people dealing with it right now."