Fans who grieve over players who refuse to join the LGBTQ movement will be delighted to know that the new boss of the National League Players Association (AJLNH) is a friend of the cause. But Marty Walsh is also keen to respect the individual rights of the members of his union.
Walsh held his first press conference Thursday in Toronto since being named executive director of the NHLPA.
A former Boston mayor, former Secretary of Labor in the current Biden administration, Walsh was quick to discuss his record of service to the LGBTQ community when the subject came up.
“In 2004, when Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage, I was an advocate. We have already hoisted a trans community flag in front of Boston City Hall. As a league, it’s important to be inclusive, in the locker room as well,” Walsh said.
But, he added, “the commissioner [Gary Bettman] has said he supports individual player rights and I agree with him. »
Later in the conference, Walsh was asked if the boycott of some players — some citing religious reasons, others security — implied that there was homophobia among the players.
Walsh again reiterated the “individual right” of players to participate or not in cause-related activities. “But the community shouldn’t feel like the NHL and the players are letting them down, because the overwhelming majority of players have worn the jersey. »
That said, this file does not necessarily seem to be at the top of the priorities of the new boss, who must prioritize issues that affect a greater number of members.
Player engagement, for example, is clearly one of his concerns. The lack of involvement is often mentioned by community stakeholders and Walsh, also a former union leader, seems well aware of the situation.
“Usually in a union one-third of the members are involved. I wish I had more. We must assess how to create these opportunities during the year. Players shouldn’t come to the table only when the collective agreement is renegotiated,” he said.
International tournaments are also in his rearview mirror. The NHL has been failing for almost 10 years on this file. Since the Sochi Games in 2014, it hosted a World Cup in 2016, but the tournament didn’t exactly ignite passions in Toronto. Since then, the circuit has been unable to organize another tournament and has refused players to participate in the 2018 Olympics. The pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia then complicated the situation.
“We had discussions about the World Cup and about going to the Olympics,” Walsh said. We mentioned that we had to bring back the World Cup. The fans want it, the players want it. »
While the Russian situation is currently hampering any organizational efforts, “we need to start the conversation to find out, on paper, what the tournament would look like. »
Walsh also spoke about the need to provide “more opportunities for players to be sponsored, to be seen,” a point recently raised by an agent in a casual conversation with La Presse.
Moreover, Walsh remained evasive, arguing that he did not know enough about certain files to comment on them now. This was particularly the case when asked about instances where a player meets with the Department of Player Safety. The fact that the players’ union must defend both the victim and the aggressor is often criticized. “I have to worry about both players in such a situation,” Walsh recalled.
His ties to Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs have been mentioned often since his appointment. In 2017, during his re-election campaign for mayor of Boston, he benefited from a donation of $ 13,000 from Jacobs, one of the most influential owners of the NHL.
Internally, however, this possible conflict of interest does not seem to bother everyone. “If we excluded candidates who have had previous relationships with team owners, we would exclude 80% of qualified candidates!” I would have been more concerned if he had been mayor of Boston without having a relationship with Jeremy Jacobs, “said Sabers forward Kyle Okposo, a member of the selection committee, in an interview with the Buffalo News last month.
“I know the family quite well, I was mayor for seven years, recalled the new director of the AJLNH. I know all the sports teams in Boston well. […] Did these people support my campaign? Yes. But in my career, supporting my campaign is one thing, but using it as a negotiating lever will never happen. »
Walsh’s ties to the business world will be crucial. He has always been known as an excellent negotiator, but with this agreement in effect until September 2026, his ability to develop business will come under greater scrutiny.
