US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh is believed to be the leading candidate to be the next executive director of the NHL Players’ Association, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger.
Dreger adds that the NHLPA board will meet on Thursday to further discuss its leadership search.
Walsh, 55, was the mayor of Boston from 2014 until he resigned in 2021 to serve in US President Joe Biden’s Cabinet. Under the Biden Administration, he is charged with helping oversee federal rules and regulations designed to protect more than 150 million workers across the United States.
Walsh rose to prominence in Boston leading building and construction trades unions and also served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reported Tuesday in Insider Trading that some players from the NHLPA’s executive board will meet in person and via Zoom call during the NHL All-Star weekend in Florida and at least one source suggested they might be at the point that they could be ready to present the winning candidate in their long search to replace current executive director Don Fehr.
An executive board vote is then required by the NHLPA to complete the process, with the approval of 18 of 32 board members needed to confirm the new leader.
Fehr was with the MLB Players’ Association for 32 years before he joined the NHLPA in December of 2010.