And Now It's The NHL's Turn On Concussions...

((HT: NHL/Puck Daddy))

We know how much the NFL and its players have gone hammer and tong over the concussion issue...

Now, it is the NHL's turn to handle it. Ten former players have filed a suit in a DC court claiming the league knew about the risks involved in contact within the sport. The players claim the league didn't do anything proactive until 2010 when the league made it a penalty to go after another player's head...

The list of plaintiffs: Gary Leeman, Bradley Aitken, Darren Banks, Curt Bennett, Richard Dunn, Warren Holmes, Robert Manno, Blair James Stewart, Morris Titanic, and Rick Vaive...

Here's some of what Vaive dealt with in the league...


And Leeman...


Just for examples...

The law firm of Namanny, Byrne, and Owens is filing a class action lawsuit with the Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin, and White firm of Baltimore, Maryland.

Their full release is here, but the highlight is:

In 2004 the NHL introduced a series of updates to the rule-set to encourage a faster, more exciting, and ultimately more marketable product. As a result, the number of violent in-game collisions and occurrence of head trauma have increased. When coupled with the NHL’s refusal to protect players by banning full-body checking or penalizing on-ice fist fights, the league has created a dangerous atmosphere for players. The complaint alleges that the NHL either ignores or consistently lags behind other hockey leagues in adopting protections for players in accordance with current medical knowledge of concussions. Instead, the NHL continues to glorify and empower players known as “enforcers”- players with the singular intention of injuring the opposing team.

Here's the NHL's retort:

"We are aware of the class action lawsuit filed today in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of a group of former NHL Players. While the subject matter is very serious, we are completely satisfied with the responsible manner in which the League and the Players' Association have managed Player safety over time, including with respect to head injuries and concussions. We intend to defend the case vigorously and have no further comment at this time."

And, so it begins... and won't be over with for a long time...