Now That's a Chunk of Change!

Did you know that Ted Saskin makes $2.13 million a year? Forget Ken Campbell’s report that a Chris Chelios led group has hired an investigator to look into Saskin’s dealing in his short stint as the NHLPA Director. This guy makes $2.8 million a year! If that is not shady, I don’t know what is. So let’s see, the NFLPA Directors makes $3 million; the NBAPA Director makes $1.8 million; the MLBPA Director makes $1 million. How does Saskin, new to this job, make $2.13 million? I’m dumbfounded. According to Campbell’s report…

There are also questions surrounding Saskin’s salary negotiation. In an email to Linden dated July 17, 2005, a copy of which was obtained by The Hockey News, Saskin used other union leaders salaries as points of comparison. In it, he said “I understand” NFL Players’ Association executive director Gene Upshaw made $3 million per year and NBA Players’ Association head Billy Hunter made $2.8 million. Hunter’s salary is reportedly closer to $1.8 million, while baseball union leader Donald Fehr reportedly makes $1 million with a pension guarantee of $150,000 per year.Saskin’s deal runs through 2009-10 and pays him an average of $2.13 million per year.One player said Saskin’s attempts to receive a salary similar to Goodenow’s – Saskin originally pitched an average salary of $2.4 million compared to Goodenow’s $2.8 million – has irked a number of members.“That’s like a rookie coming in and saying he wants to be paid the same as Nicklas Lidstrom,” the player said. “ “Sorry kid, that’s not how it works. You have to earn it.’ ”