TORONTO -- Bob Goodenow is stepping down as head of the NHL Players' Association, less than a week after the union and league approved a new labor deal to end a lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.
Goodenow had three years left on his contract. But many observers thought he was not thrilled by the labor pact, which included a salary cap.
"With the conclusion of the negotiations and the ratification of the new agreement, the parties concur that this is an appropriate action for the future," Goodenow said in a statement Thursday.
"I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve the players over the past 15 years and to have had the support of a tremendous staff at the NHLPA," he said.
Ted Saskin, the union's senior director of business affairs and licensing, will succeed Goodenow as executive director and general counsel.
NHL players overwhelmingly approved the labor contract last Thursday. Still, many of them were unhappy that a full season was lost and the union ended up accepting a salary cap.
"This decision followed discussions between Goodenow and members of the executive committee about the organization's future," the NHLPA said in a statement.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman vowed clubs would have "cost certainty" -- a hard salary cap tied to league revenues -- before the lockout began last September. Goodenow promised that he would never agree to either. But when the deal was signed, he was forced to accept both.
"I have always respected Bob's tenacity, passion and professionalism, and I wish him well in his future endeavors. We congratulate Ted and look forward to working with him," Bettman said in a statement Thursday.
Goodenow's departure caught Buffalo Sabres goalie Martin Biron by surprise.
"I'm a little shocked right now. I personally had a lot of faith in what Bob was going to be able to do and what he did. There was some criticism, but I didn't think that he deserved all that criticism," Biron said.
"I don't put any blame on him," he said. "Everybody was on the same page for the longest time. Why is it now that, `He's the one that led us down the wrong path?' No. He set up a strategy. It didn't work out the way we thought it would be. He took a lot of heat."
Goodenow led the union during a time when player salaries skyrocketed. NHLPA president Trevor Linden spoke warmly of Goodenow in the statement announcing his departure.
"Every NHL player has benefited enormously from Bob's leadership and dedication. He has been a tireless advocate for the players and he dramatically improved the players' situation in every respect," said Linden, a 16-year veteran.
Philadelphia forward Sami Kapanen said he thought the union's decision to agree to a salary cap contributed to Goodenow's move.
"The players decided to accept the cap and get back on the ice, but I don't think that's what Bob was looking for," Kapanen said. "I know that not all the players are happy with the negotiations."
Kapanen said Goodenow tried to prepare the players for a holdout that could've been as long as a couple of years, but the players just weren't able to commit to a lengthy holdout.
"It was so easy before anything started out to say that it was going to take 18 months or a couple of years," Kapanen said. "But once you get into it and see how much you miss playing and how much the game is suffering, something needed to be done."
-Arlos
