TopShelf's Journal: NHLPA rocked by email spying scandal

Just when you thought managerial spying was the exclusive field for tech-savvy firms like HP, the details are now coming out about an electronic spying scandal that brought down the head of the National Hockey League Players Association, Ted Saskin. Over the course of fifteen months, Saskin and an associate regularly accessed the email accounts of NHL player reps who wanted to have Saskin's hiring investigated. In addition, the results of a secret ballot ratifying the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement were provided to Saskin by members of the NHLPA's IT group - so watch out for any resumes listing NHLPA Network Security as a working experience!

Its a Contest

[Shadow Wrought]

The NBA and NHL are fighting to see which one can squander what it has faster. I don't know if you listen to Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio, but he mentioned this morning that the Indy 500 rain delay had better viewership than the NBA playoffs! The NHL plying on all sorts of random cable channels certainly hasn't done them any favors, either.

Re:

[TopShelf]

Yeah, I heard that. The thing to remember about the NHL is that it has always been a "butts in the seats" type of business, and has never gotten significant TV revenue from the US market. They have a decent package in Canada, of course, but the pro hockey business is really driven by high attendance figures and ticket prices.

To national radio talk show hosts, however, TV ratings are the primary barometer of a league's worth.

Re:

[Shadow Wrought]

I think the NHL might have tried to overextend itself a few years back when it expanded into Southern markets. Although, I must say, were it not for that I couldn't say that I've been a SJ Sharks fan ever since their inception;-)