NHLPA votes to start search for executive director Donald Fehr's successor

The NHL Players' Association announced on Friday night that it has formed a search committee to find the successor to executive director Don Fehr.

The NHLPA executive board held a conference call on Monday, and the players voted through the week on whether to begin the process of replacing Fehr. The 73-year-old joined the NHLPA in December 2010 and has negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreements in 2013 and 2020.

Fehr will continue to lead the NHLPA until his successor is found.

The NHLPA search committee's initial members are Ian Cole (Carolina Hurricanes), Justin Faulk (St. Louis Blues), Sam Gagner (Detroit Red Wings), Zach Hyman (Edmonton Oilers), Kyle Okposo (Buffalo Sabres), Nate Schmidt (Winnipeg Jets) and Kevin Shattenkirk (Anaheim Ducks). Other members might be named in the future.

The committee will begin the process of finding candidates and will give a progress report to the board at its meeting in Toronto on July 18-20.

Said the selection committee in a statement:

«The many players who have played in the NHL over the last eleven years greatly appreciate the significant accomplishments under the leadership of Don Fehr. Don joined the NHLPA after a long and successful career as Executive Director of the MLBPA and quickly stabilized the union following a very difficult period. He led the NHLPA through the owners' 2012-13 lockout and negotiated a new CBA that created a defined benefit pension plan which will greatly benefit players for generations to come. Don played an important role in reviving the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.

»After Covid-19 forced the suspension of the 2019-20 season, Don led the bargaining that resulted in an extension of the CBA in July 2020 and allowed for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs to