TORONTO -- The NHL Players' Association announced a
five-player committee on Thursday to find a replacement for former
executive director Ted Saskin.
"We're walking out of here with a positive attitude," Red
Wings defenseman Chris Chelios said after three days of meetings.
"It's been a long two years. Obviously we've been damaged and
there's been a crisis ...
"I've been through the glory days, some of the best days, and
those days are in the near future."
Chelios was among the five players selected to head the search
committee for a new executive director. He largely led the fight
against Saskin's controversial hiring in August 2005.
"I feel an obligation to finish what I started," said Chelios,
among 20 player representatives.
"It's going to be a difficult task but with the help of the
players and our staff, we're going to make sure that we pick the
right guy and move forward as a union," he said.
Mike Cammalleri of the Los Angeles Kings, Shawn Horcoff of the
Edmonton Oilers, Eric Lindros of the Dallas Stars and Robyn Regehr
of the Calgary Flames will also head up the committee.
That group will start identifying and interviewing potential
candidates, but has set no timetable to name the successor to
Saskin, who was fired in May over accusations that he ordered the
reading of players' e-mails. An investigative report on the matter
is expected in August from Toronto lawyer Sheila Block.
"We will not be rushed, that's what got us in this situation,"
Chelios said, referring to Saskin's rushed hiring to replace Bob
Goodenow. "So we'll take our time. It's going to be decided as a
group."