NHL Players Call Major Penalty On Their Union Execs.

It’s usually the referees who send major players to the penalty box.

But in a sign of just how bad things have gotten between hockey stars and the head honcho of their union, players have called a time out on Ted Saskin – and it’s not clear when he’ll ever be out of the box.

Saskin is the executive director of the NHL Players’ Association. Both he and his senior director Ken Kim have been accused of tampering with the emails of members looking to oust him from office.

And now those players on the executive board have taken the first step in making that happen, sending both men home on a paid leave of absence while the allegations against them are probed.

Thirty player reps met in a conference call Sunday night and decided the time for talk was through.

“Following Sunday evening’s conference call, the National Hockey League Players’ Association announced that the NHLPA executive board has placed Ted Saskin, NHLPA executive director and Ken Kim, NHLPA senior director on a paid leave of absence effective immediately,” the union explained in a statement.

“The NHLPA executive board will be retaining outside counsel in order to properly address the allegations made against Mr. Saskin and Mr. Kim. The NHLPA executive board will afford Mr. Saskin and Mr. Kim the opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them at the appropriate time.

“As this is an internal matter, there will be no further comment at this time.”

But while the press release was carefully worded, some comments by those involved weren’t.

“Ted is done,” one anonymous player noted after the call.

Saskin’s own email account with the NHLPA has been disconnected, along with his BlackBerry.

Among those listening in: director of hockey affairs Mike Gartner, Mathieu Schneider of the Detroit Red Wings, Kevyn Adams of the Phoenix Coyotes, Alyn McCauley of the Los Angeles Kings, Wade Redden and Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators and Marty Turco of the Dallas Stars.

Also on the line:  Red Wings’ defenceman Chris Chelios, one of the leaders in the anti-Saskin movement.

The offensive against the beleaguered union exec began when he replaced Bob Goodenow after the strike that wiped out the 2004-2005 season.

Many players felt Saskin was behind the compromise that wound up placing them under a salary cap, a move most swore they’d never allow.

And when allegations surfaced that the man in charge was censoring the private emails of members who opposed his reign, the police were called in.

Neither Saskin nor Kim have ever been convicted of doing anything wrong. But the players are clearly angry with their leadership and have been facing off with them for some time.

For the Leafs, the Saskin situation has been a distraction to a team that needs to concentrate on other things – like winning.

“I think we’re glad it’s over and all the players are going to, you know, get on paper what happened and going to be told and everybody’s going to be informed,” suggests Matt Stajan. “That’s what we need, ’cause … especially in our locker room, [it] started to become a bit of a joke just how every few months there would be a new allegation against Ted … The best thing is for him to move aside.”

Mike Peca agrees. “It’s our job as a union to try and rectify them, find the answers and find the solutions and try and move forward so that, you know, the people in charge are going to be doing the best job for us and we feel comfortable with what they’re doing.”

An internal review of the pair’s conduct is being conducted by a Toronto lawyer. Her report will ensure hockey will be back on the front page even when it’s out of season. It’s due sometime this summer.