So much for Paul Kelly easing into his new gig.
Before the ink has even dried on his new contract as the NHLPA's Executive Director, Kelly will need to get a little dirty.
Player agent Don Meehan and his lawyer fired the first salvo Tuesday, issuing "notices of libel" to NHLPA player rep Chris Chelios and an unknown number of media outlets following comments made last week. Chelios had some, uh, unflattering things to say about Meehan that didn't go unnoticed.
Now, the only bar I've ever passed happens to have a happy hour, so my knowledge of law is somewhat limited. But that sure doesn't sound very promising.
So much for backslaps and balloons to herald Kelly's arrival.
It has been a few days since I suggested Kelly may want to make an immediate impact once named to the NHLPA post, but this isn't exactly what he may have had in mind. The fact Chelios was one of those who lobbied hard for Kelly means the new E.D. will want to sweep this under the rug as quickly, and quietly, as possible.
And make no mistake, this one could get messy in a hurry.
For those not keeping score, history hasn't been all that kind to recent NHLPA chiefs. Alan Eagleson ended up in the pokey, ironically put there by Kelly. Bob Goodenow was ousted following the lockout, and Ted Saskin got a little too nosy and was shown the door.
Kelly rides into town carrying a pretty striking resume and a no-nonsense attitude. At first glance it appears as though the NHLPA has found the right man for the job, some would say at long last.
But let's not forget that Goodenow made an awful lot of money for the players before he tried to stuff his pockets in the candy store.
Paul Kelly was hand-picked for this post. Chelios and the rest of the search committee saw him as their golden boy, and now Kelly, right out of the gate, is going to have something to prove.
Is Kelly cursed, just as his predecessors were? Highly doubtful.
But recent history shows it isn't going to be easy.