Saskin sent home on paid leave of absence


It was the beginning of the end for NHL Players' Association executive director Ted Saskin on Sunday night as the players' executive board voted to send him home on a paid leave of absence while an internal review continued and more questions get answered.

The 30 players reps on the Sunday night conference call also voted to put NHLPA senior director Ken Kim on a paid leave of absence. Saskin and Kim have been accused of monitoring NHLPA player e-mails, the explosive allegations that led to Sunday's executive board conference call.

''Ted is done,'' one player, who requested anonymity, said after the call.

Saskin was not on the conference call. A source told The Canadian Press that his e-mail account and blackberry were disconnected over the weekend.

''Following Sunday evening's conference call, the National Hockey League Players' Association announced that the NHLPA executive board has placed Ted Saskin, NHLPA executive director and Ken Kim, NHLPA senior director on a paid leave of absence effective immediately,'' the union said in a release late Sunday night.

''The NHLPA executive board will be retaining outside counsel in order to properly address the allegations made against Mr. Saskin and Mr. Kim. The NHLPA executive board will afford Mr. Saskin and Mr. Kim the opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them at the appropriate time.

''As this is an internal matter, there will be no further comment at this time.''

The six-member interim executive committee, which did not vote Sunday night, will be responsible for recommending that independent lawyer.