[Coach]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

There may not have been concussion protocol in place in the 2000's, but did any sane person think concussions wouldn't have long term effects?

I dunno. My dad told me to keep playing as a 13 year old with a rung bell and a headache. I doubt he would have if he knew there could be long term damage. Heck, I still see it with parents even after all we've learned. Sometimes, there's not as much "choice" as people think.

That's kind of where the rub is for me, people knew concussions weren't good (players and the league) but both pretty much kept their heads in the sand and ignored it. The league ignored it because it's bad for business, and players ignored it because they had to play to make money.

I changed a few small words to shift the point of view on this. People tend to look at this from a star players perspective. "Ohhh you get to go out and play a game, and make millions doing it, while thousands of adoring fans scream your name and ladies throw their undergarments at you. And you have a headache? Boohoo you chose it!" This isn't the case for the majority of players. Sure they make good money, some may only do so for a few years and then leave with no other life skills, and brain damage to boot because they were repeatedly told THIS is what you have to do to keep your job.

How many people in here would physically fight to keep their job? I'm sure there are at least a few that make close to or similar money as a low-level hockey player. Would you take repeated punches to the face for it? And lets not forget that the vast majority of high level players were exactly that until they got to the pro leagues, and only then were they told they had to fight to play. Many of them spent their junior/college careers being protected by the guys who couldn't skate, and now they're expected to be the protectors.

So yes, they made the choice to step out onto the ice surface, just like I make the choice to get out of bed everyday to come down to the job I hate. Is it my choice, and can I leave at anytime? Sure, but I also need to pay my mortgage/bills and eat and sleep and care for my dog, etc... So I do things I don't want, just like most people, and yes, even NHL hockey players.

I'm not saying the league is innocent in the matter, I just feel like the players and PA should have some blame as well.

I don't disagree that the PA should shoulder some blame for lobbying more for the finances of the players and less so for the safety, but if the league had access to knowledge about the long term affects of these injuries for years prior to instilling regulations and protocols for return to play, they shoulder a large portion of that as well. If the PA had the same information and sheltered it (entirely possible) then they would have the same blame.