From TSN’s Darren Dreger:

Reaction to Paul Kelly’s firing as executive director of the NHLPA continues, more than two weeks after his early morning dismissal in a Chicago boardroom.

NHL player agents J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey have tried to make sense of Kelly’s fall, specifically the process in which it unfolded, to help the players they represent understand the sudden change in union leadership.

However, Brisson and Barry who represent a number of NHL stars including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Patrick Kane, Dany Heatley, Daniel Briere and Mats Sundin, plus NHLPA executive board members, Robyn Regehr, Shawn Horcoff and Maxime Talbot, believe the “process” in which Kelly was fired was flawed.

The veteran player agents today issued a statement, outlining their concerns.

“We have had numerous discussions with our clients and other players around the League regarding the dismissal of Paul Kelly as Executive Director of the NHLPA.  Some of the things we have learned about the process are very troubling to us. We are encouraging each of our clients to educate themselves with union matters so they can understand how these types of decision are reached.  We believe that a strong and unified voice is necessary.  In order for that to happen, the majority of players must be heard.” – J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson, CAA Hockey

The current NHLPA constitution doesn’t require the full memberships involvement.

The vote to dethrone Paul Kelly was determined by the 30 NHL player reps who make up the PA’s executive board.

Veteran NHL defenceman Chris Chelios is a member of the executive board and he echoes Brisson and Barry’s issues with how Kelly was let go.

“I agree that our abrupt vote was questionable without being able to explain our position to our teammates,” Chelios told TSN.

To read Dreger’s complete report, click here.

What the hell is going on with the NHLPA?  Chris Chelios must have taken some serious heat from his former teammates because the impression we had from him not two weeks ago was that they were confident with it. 

This was Chelios response to Mlive.com’s George Malik on September 1st, 2009 when asked “what the response has been from his fellow NHLPA members as he explains the thought process behind Kelly’s firing

“A lot of guys obviously don’t know what happened, couldn’t see it coming,” said Chelios, an NHLPA executive board member. “Half the board couldn’t see this coming until we got to the meetings. At the end of the day, once everybody is filled in on what happened, they’re going to understand and we’re going to move on.”

“We’re going to have to have to hope when the guys do find out all the information, they’ll agree. And I think they will,” he said.

It now appears to have come full circle as it was reported in today’s National Post that:

Chris Chelios is planning to talk with other players about the possibility of bringing back Paul Kelly as executive director of the National Hockey League Players’ Association….

To read the complete story, click here.

So stay tuned as the NHLPA continues to search for someone to lead them into the next possible CBA clash in 2011.

• Mikhail Grabovski will be back with Maple Leafs after agreeing to three-year, $8.7-million raise.  Not the big player that the Leafs have started to add, but very skilled and a good skater.  Nice match with bigger, tougher players.  However, needs to learn to keep his cool.
• Defenceman Jordan Leopold agreed to a one-year, $1.75-million US contract with the Florida Panthers on Thursday.  Full kudos to Panthers management.  They were maligned for not trading Bouwmeester away at the deadline because it was anticipated they would lose him and get no compensation.  Instead they signed Leopold, a serviceable defenceman and a 3rd round draft pick.  Well done.
• Another Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman has bolted after the team’s Stanley Cup win, as free agent Rob Scuderi has signed with the Los Angeles Kings for four years.  He is an underrated defenceman(except in Pittsburgh) who should be a big help to the Kings young up-and-coming blue line.
• Canes forward Chad LaRose has signed a two-year contract that will pay him $1.5 million next year and $1.9 million in the second season, general manager Jim Rutherford said today.
• Free agent defenseman Adrian Aucoin has signed a 1-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes, giving the team a veteran presence.
• Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin is pumped to come to Edmonton in a deal he says is more about the timeline than the bottom line.
• Brian Gionta is looking forward to playing with Scott Gomez again.
• Mike Komisarek is fully aware that most of the fans he made during his years with the Montreal Canadiens consider him The Enemy now that he has joined the rival Toronto Maple Leafs.
• The Koivu brothers could be united in Minnesota. 
• In one fell swoop, Dany Heatley managed to alienate two of the six Canadian cities with NHL team.

• Dave Staples reacts to the red hot TSN rumor of Penner and Smid for Heatley.
• Matt Duchene has never set the bar low for himself and his plans include playing for the Avalanche this year.
• Sources say Chris Neil turned down the Ottawa Senators’ offer of $1.7-million per year and will likely go to free agency unless there are further developments tonight.
• The Dallas Stars have re-signed right wing Jere Lehtinen to a one-year contract for the 2009-10 season.
• The Sabres burst out of the lockout four years ago as a sleek, smallish team built for the so-called “new” NHL. But that wide-open, goal-filled league has quickly dissolved into one ruled by size and grit again.
• For the first time in years, Chris Chelios is waiting for a call.
• The Boston Bruins announced Tuesday that they have bought out the final year of forward Peter Schaefer‘s contract.
• Getting cynical as the Red Wings free agent previews/rumors roll in.
• Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has named Jim Mill Assistant to the General Manager.
• While agents and general managers are forbidden from discussing specific contracts and players before the deadline passes, they’ve usually had some informal discussions ahead of that time.
• Step right up to the NHL’s annual three-ring free-agent circus Wednesday and under the big top you’ll see more than 300 players available to the highest bidder.

• With less than 48 hours until the NHL free agency period begins, the first big question is how many of the marquee free agents will even get to the open market.
• Defenseman Johnny Oduya expected to finalize new deal with New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
• Coyotes owner is blasting the $148 million bid by for his bankrupt NHL team as illegitimate.
• Hossa gets his ‘take it or leave it’ offer from the Red Wings; Lilja’s health will determine which defenseman gets traded.
• Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero announced that the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed right-winger Bill Guerin to a one year contract.
• Dany Heatley could be traded before July 1, but it’s going to take a significant offer from the New York Rangers or the Edmonton Oilers — the two clubs seemingly most interested in the goal-scoring winger – to get it done.
• Calgary Flames GM Darryl Sutter is wasting little time in his pursuit of one of the top defensemen in the NHL.  He is having a face to face meeting with Bouwmeester and his representatives.
• The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed Jussi Jokinen to a $3.4 million contract over the next two seasons the club announced.
• Ed Belfour, who turned 44 last April, is working out near his suburban Dallas home as he seeks a return to the NHL.
• Jay McKee, Peter Schaeffer and Brett McLean have been placed on unconditional waivers, for the purposes of buying out their contracts.
• General manager Darcy Regier made the announcement on Monday, hours before a 5 p.m. deadline for teams to make offers to their restricted free agents.
• Ducks plan patience with free agent market.
• The Chicago Blackhawks have re-signed second-line centreman David Bolland, inking the restricted free agent to a five-year deal.
• The San Jose Sharks are beginning a roster makeover by declining to make qualifying offers to forwards Marcel Goc, Tomas Plihal and Lukas Kaspar.
• The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a qualifying offer to goaltender Justin Pogge.
• Londoner Nazem Kadri reflects on being the Toronto Maple Leafs first-round draft pick.
• Regina to host Lightning, Senators pre-season game almost 30 years since they last hosted a game between the Jets and Blues.
• A Tuesday news conference will announce the addition of a Quad City team in the International Hockey League for the 2009-2010 season.
• Health Canada warns that National Hockey League-themed baby pacifiers sold at arenas and other retailers a choking hazard.
• Jean Béliveau – a 10-time Stanley Cup champion and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame – has been named an honourary captain of Canada’s 2010 men’s Olympic hockey team.
• For the first time in franchise history, the Islanders did not have a single 20-goal scorer last season. Rookie Kyle Okposo led them with 18 goals.