Marty Walsh to Become Highest-Paid Executive of NHLPA
United States Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is set to become the first member of President Joe Biden’s cabinet to leave office, as he is reportedly in talks to become the next executive director of the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA).[0]
Walsh, 55, was the mayor of Boston from 2014 until he resigned in 2021 to serve in the U.S. President’s cabinet.[1] He was formerly a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, a member of Laborers Local 223, and he served as the head of the Building and Construction Trades Council from 2011 to 2013.[2]
According to the Daily Faceoff, Walsh is in discussions with the NHLPA to transfer him back to Boston, his hometown, and earn a salary of approximately $3 million annually – a notable rise from the $221,400 he presently earns yearly.[3]
Walsh joins a wide shakeup within the Biden administration as it enters the tail end of its first term in office and prepares for a possible reelection campaign.[4] He would be the first head of a major agency or department to leave his position during Biden's presidency.[2]
Walsh is reportedly negotiating a deal that would make him the highest-paid executive of a major sports league players’ union.[5] The current NHLPA executive director reportedly makes about $3 million a year.[4]
In April of last year, the NHLPA announced the formation of a search committee to fill the role of executive director, vacated by Donald Fehr, who had previously been the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association before joining the NHLPA in December 2010.[6]
Ian Cole (Tampa Bay), Mattias Ekholm (Nashville), Justin Faulk (St. Louis), Sam Gagner (Winnipeg), Zach Hyman (Edmonton), Kyle Okposo (Buffalo), Nate Schmidt (Winnipeg), Kevin Shattenkirk (Anaheim), Jacob Trouba (New York Rangers) and James van Riemsdyk (Philadelphia) are active players on the NHLPA's search committee.[5]
Walsh's appointment must be approved by the league's executive board, with 18 out of the 32 player representatives voting in his favor in order for him to be selected as the next executive director.[7] The Daily Faceoff has indicated that Walsh is anticipated to receive a unanimous vote of approval.[7]
0. “Biden Labor Secretary Marty Walsh to become head of NHL players union” CNBC, 7 Feb. 2023, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/07/biden-labor-secretary-marty-walsh-to-become-head-of-nhl-players-union.html
1. “Walsh the top candidate for NHLPA executive director” TSN, 1 Feb. 2023, https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/u-s-secretary-of-labour-marty-walsh-the-top-candidate-for-nhlpa-executive-director-1.1913855
2. “Reports: Announcement of Walsh resignation expected after State of the Union” WCVB Boston, 7 Feb. 2023, https://www.wcvb.com/article/labor-secretary-marty-walsh-nhlpa-announcement-expected-feb-7-2023/42790834
3. “Secretive Talks Lead to Marty Walsh Leading NHL Players Org” The Daily Beast, 7 Feb. 2023, https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-the-secretive-talks-that-led-to-labor-sec-marty-walsh-leading-the-nhl-players-association
4. “Marty Walsh to depart from Biden cabinet for job atop hockey players' union” POLITICO, 7 Feb. 2023, https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/07/marty-walsh-to-depart-from-biden-cabinet-for-job-atop-hockey-players-union-00081567
5. “NHLPA ‘getting closer’ to naming exec director; Marty Walsh reported favorite” Yardbarker, 2 Feb. 2023, https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/nhlpa_getting_closer_to_naming_exec_director_marty_walsh_reported_favorite/s1_17050_38424516
6. “Marty Walsh set to be first to quit Biden Cabinet — for NHLPA job” New York Post , 7 Feb. 2023, https://nypost.com/2023/02/07/marty-walsh-set-to-be-first-biden-cabinet-member-to-resign/
7. “Marty Walsh set to become executive director of NHL Players' Association” CBS Boston, 7 Feb. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/marty-walsh-set-to-become-executive-director-of-nhl-players-association/
