Report: U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh to be named head of NHLPA

Marty Walsh, the current U.S. Secretary of Labor, is set to be named executive director of the NHL Players' Association, reports Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.

He succeeds Donald Fehr, who's departing the position after 12 years. A formal announcement on Walsh's appointment is expected at some point following President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

The NHLPA has been searching for a new leader for roughly 10 months. Walsh emerged as a leading candidate over recent weeks and introduced himself to the executive board in a virtual meeting before All-Star Weekend. A formal vote requiring 18 approvals among the 32 team representatives still needs to take place, but Walsh is expected to be elected unanimously, Seravalli adds.

Walsh was mayor of Boston from 2014-21 until he joined Biden's cabinet. He made himself available for the NHLPA job after he wasn't selected as Biden's next chief of staff.

Former player agent and Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis was also a finalist for the job.