Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyB
I'm not surprised at all that there would be some abuse, especially with guys just entering the league or who are borderline NHLers. They would be easy victims. Playing hockey is likely the best ticket they have in life, but they haven't been able to really cash in on it yet and are hanging all their hopes on being able to do so. They also mostly don't have great fallback options and being a hockey player is at the core of their identity. Coaches can take all of those things away from them.
Add on to that a culture of covering up and hiding problems along with intense competition and high stakes for winning/losing careers and the NHL has a lot of factors in place to increase chances of abuse.
Look at what it has taken to move conversations forward in the NHL about head injuries and concussions that have wrecked people's brains. To think that abuse wouldn't be hidden and enabled in the NHL seems awfully optimistic.
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Agreed. NHL minimum wage is life changing money. Full stop.
Coaches control lineups, ice time and opportunity.
Tremendous power imbalance