Marty Walsh Steps Down As Biden’s Labor Secretary To Join NHL Players Association

Topline

The National Hockey League Players’ Association named Labor Secretary Marty Walsh as its new executive director Thursday afternoon, ending the former Boston mayor’s two-year stint in the Biden Administration and marking the first cabinet member to part ways with President Joe Biden since his inauguration.

Key Facts

The executive board of the NHLPA—a labor union representing hockey players—named Walsh, the mayor of Boston from 2014 to 2021, as its new executive director, with NHLPA search committee member and Buffalo Sabres right winger Kyle Okposo calling Walsh a “proven leader with a strong union background” who can connect with players.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after a report from Hockey outlet the Daily Faceoff broke the news Walsh was planning to join the players’ association, where he’s expected to earn a yearly salary of roughly $3 million and work remotely from Boston, as opposed to the NHLPA’s Toronto headquarters.

Tangent

Walsh, who worked for a Boston labor union before being elected to the Massachusts state legislature in 1997 and becoming Boston’s mayor in 2014, is said to be the first head of the Labor Department with a union background since 1975. Last month, he was reportedly considered a candidate for White House Chief of Staff, following Ron Klain’s departure from the position. Former White House Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients was instead chosen for the job.

Surprising Fact

Walsh’s departure marks the second time in recent months that a Massachusetts politician has left politics for a role in sports, after former Gov. Charlie Baker (R) took a job leading the National Collegiate Athletic Association after his second term ended in January.

Further Reading

Labor Secretary Marty Walsh Plans To Leave Biden Administration For NHL Union Job (Forbes)

Marty Walsh hired as executive director of NHL Players’ Association (Boston Globe)