NHLPA announces major hire as tensions with the league continue to escalate.

The National Hockey League Player's Association quietly announced a big hire on Friday, one that could have long-term implications for the National Hockey League and it's fans.

While to the public the situation with surrounding the Dennis Wideman suspension may appear settled after a neutral arbitrator ruled to reduce the suspension to 10 games, half of the original punishment handed down by the NHL's commissioner Gary Bettman, the reality of the situation is very different. The league has followed that ruling with a lawsuit against the NHLPA and this move may be a reaction to that.

The NHLPA's executive director, Donald Fehr, announced the hiring of Bruce Meyer, an attorney who has over 30 years of experience defending the rights in professional athletes in the NHL, NBA, and NFL. Meyer is a heavy hitter and his addition to the NHLPA's front office, given the timing, could very well be designed to send a message. 

Fehr made the following official statement via the NHLPA's website:

“Bruce will be a great addition to the NHLPA’s staff. He brings a wealth of knowledge to this new role coming from his law firm where he gained three decades’ worth of valuable experience, including effectively representing the NHLPA and other Players’ Associations as outside counsel,” said Don Fehr, NHLPA Executive Director.

Meyer himself released the following statement:

Protecting the rights of professional athletes has been a passion for me throughout my career,” said Meyer. “This is an exciting opportunity for me to join the NHLPA’s team, and I look forward to taking on this new challenge.”

Tensions of this level, especially when they keep escalating, are never good for fans of the sport.

[pub]