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Martin J. Walsh was officially introduced as the new executive director of the NHL Players' Association at a press conference in Toronto on Thursday.
Walsh, a Boston native, was named NHLPA executive director Feb. 16, replacing Donald Fehr after the NHLPA board voted in April to find a new leader. Fehr spent more than 13 years as the executive director after being hired Dec. 18, 2010.
The 55-year-old Walsh comes to the NHLPA after serving in U.S. President Joe Biden's administration as the Secretary of Labor since March of 2021.
Previously, Walsh was mayor of Boston from 2014-21 after spending 16 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He also spent years as a labor leader in Boston.
"During my early interviews with the NHLPA it was clear to me that this opportunity was one that I wanted to pursue," Walsh said. "Becoming the executive director allows me to join two passions I have: One is hockey and the other one is fighting for working people. Growing up in the city of Boston, you know it's a hockey town and as a kid in my house the Bruins were always on. I continue to love the game and to have the opportunity now to represent the NHLPA is just an amazing opportunity."
Walsh said he is looking forward to working with the NHL players and their families to learn about what is important to them. He said his No. 1 priority in his new role is to get to talk to them and get to know them.
"I made it very clear to the players in all my previous roles in union politics and even politics, you have to know your constituency," Walsh said. "It's important for me to talk to the players, to talk about what their issues are, what their concerns are and what they're thinking moving forward. I represent the players of the NHL and really understanding what's important for them moving forward."
Walsh said he is looking forward to building a relationship with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the League's 32 owners.
He said he met with Bettman in New York after accepting the job, but it was brief. He had some encounters with Bettman during his time as Boston's mayor.
"We're in a very early stage of the relationship, but my approach is collaborative," Walsh said. "As long as you mutually respect each other there will be a great opportunity here moving forward on behalf of the players and on behalf of the League."
Walsh talked about capitalizing on opportunities to continue to make the players available and accessible on the world stage, including bringing back the World Cup of Hockey, having NHL players return to play in the Olympics and continuing to hold the NHL Global Series.
The NHL and NHLPA have not held a World Cup of Hockey since 2016, though there are plans for its renewal, perhaps as soon as the 2024-25 season. The NHL has not attended the Olympics since 2014 but has committed to sending players to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games in Italy provided the IOC, IIHF and local organizing committee fulfill certain long-standing obligations.
The Global Series returned this season after it wasn't played in 2019-20 and 2020-21 because of COVID-19 concerns.
"We've had a couple conversations over the last couple of weeks about the World Cup of Hockey and we've talked a little bit about the Olympics as well coming up in 2026," Walsh said. "At first what I would like to do is, let's establish the World Cup of Hockey back and let's have a forward-looking schedule to see so people can be consistent with it. Fans love it. Players love it. It's important for us to do it."
Walsh said it's premature to talk about hot-button topics that could come up in the next round of collective bargaining, particularly because he's new on the job and the current NHL/NHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement is not scheduled to expire until Sept. 15, 2026.
"There's a lot we can do between now and the CBA," Walsh said. "Talking to the players and asking them what they want out of us, I think that's key. I can't speak to how the past was here, but this is the players' union. I made it very clear to them, I represent the players in the union and their family, we represent the players and their families, and we're going to continue to do everything we can to build strong relationships and let them know the PA is here on their behalf."
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