[News] Ten former Players sue NHL over concussions

[Redrum]

By the sounds of it, a bunch of guys drank/gambled/snorted away the money they made and are exploiting this concussion/fighting/breaking a fingernail BS for another paycheck. Just lie in the bed you made, turds.

[Jiggy]

There was a poll amongst players and 98% of them didn't want to ban fighting. Hard to prove the NHL doesn't want it banned when the players want to keep it.

[MissTeeks]

Jonathon Gatehouse‏@JonGatehouse3m
NHL concussion suit also accuses Don Cherry of contributing to "violence centered culture" of game

John Shannon‏@JSportsnet1m
Interesting to note that none of 10 players in class-action lawsuit played after 1997...NHL-NHLPA formed Concussion Committee in 1997.

[MissTeeks]

The whole suit is at the bottom of this page:

http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/stor...ue-hid-dangers

[drewtastic]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Hmmm, CBC says Lindros is one of the 10, not on LeBrun's list.

He goes by 'Morris Titanic' now (E5)..

[devo22]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Jonathon Gatehouse‏@JonGatehouse3m
NHL concussion suit also accuses Don Cherry of contributing to "violence centered culture" of game

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by devo22

lol. I did a quick hockey db check -

Leeman played two more years in Germany after his last NHL game
Aitken played 14 NHL games total, his last one in 1990-91, then played in the AHL/ECHL until 1993
Banks played 20 NHL games in 1993, then went on to play in many different leagues until 2004
Bennett didn't play anywhere else after his NHL career. Google found nothing about concussions
Dunn played two full AHL seasons after his last NHL game
Holmes played two full IHL seasons after his last NHL game (45 in total)
Manno played in Italy for 6 seasons after his NHL career
Stewart played for more than a year in the AHL/CHL after his last NHL game
Titanic (what a name ^^) played in the AHL/IHL for three years after his last NHL game (19 total)
Vaive played another season in the AHL after his last NHL game

plus there's a bunch of guys on that list from the 70s and 80s ... so yeah, good luck with that.

Not really sure the relevance. The argument they would be making is that if they knew the long term effects they would have considered quitting earlier. If the NHL was downplaying the dangers in anyway or putting their players at risk that the players didn't know about they should be liable. The fact these players continued their careers should almost work in their favour as it shows that even with low reward (salary) they were willing to play the game.

There's a reason today that anytime someone gets hit in the head or may have suffered a concussion they are brought into the dark room and made to do tests. Back then after being hit it was going to the bench and waiting for your next shift. If the NHL had any idea that may have made them more susceptible to long-term ill effects after their career and now these players quality of life are hurt by it then I absolutely believe the NHL should be paying these players.

Of course that's only if they can substantiate the claim that the NHL was withholding information or lying about it.

[MissTeeks]

Mark Spector‏@SportsnetSpec3m
Suit accuses NHL of "refusing to amend its rules and procedures and equipment requirements effectively to protect its players." con't

Mark Spector‏@SportsnetSpec3m
Yet NHLPA has historically been major stumbling block when it comes to altering equipment standards.

Greg Wyshynski‏@wyshynski42s
NHLPA on concussion lawsuit: "The PA isn’t part of this lawsuit, so [it's] not something that we would comment on at this time."

[automaton 3]

$765M NFL settlement reached earlier this year:

More than 4,500 former athletes -- some suffering from dementia, depression or Alzheimer's that they blamed on blows to the head -- had sued the league, accusing it of concealing the dangers of concussions and rushing injured players back onto the field while glorifying and profiting from the kind of bone-jarring hits that make for spectacular highlight-reel footage.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...ncussions-suit

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Hmmm, CBC says Lindros is one of the 10, not on LeBrun's list.

CBC News Alerts‏@CBCAlerts3m
Eric Lindros among 10 former players suing #NHL. They say league didn't do enough to prevent #concussions. Lawsuit filed in Washington.

From the actual lawsuit, Lindros was named as one of many players to end their career due to concussions. It listed quite a few players as examples but not the ones who filed the lawsuit.

And yeah looking at the actual lawsuit, it doesn't look too bad on the NHL. Based on some of the content in the media I was expecting them to have some sort of proof or claim that the NHL was purposely lying to them about the dangers and risks where it was more the "NHL should have known."

[Parallex]

Good. If lawsuits are what it takes for people to pay the proper attention to head trauma then bring on the lawyers.

[kermitology]

Not sure how it works that the League should have known better but the NHLPA, the players themselves, or even a family doctor or agent should have been able to tell them the same thing. In fact it's quite jarring that the NHLPA isn't listed. They should bear even more responsibility in these matters IMO. This is the exact type of thing they SHOULD be doing.

Despite the fact that the NHL should probably be doing more to keep concussions from happening or for players suffering multiple concussions in a short time frame, there is also something to be said for personal responsibility.

At this point, players should know the risks and if they continue to play, they accept that risk.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Good. If lawsuits are what it takes for people to pay the proper attention to head trauma then bring on the lawyers.

Everybody is paying proper attention to head trauma. It is a contact sport and every player knows it. I think the NHL needs to put something in players contracts that states that by signing this contract you understand the risks involved in playing professional hockey and that you waive all rights to sue over injury or something to that effect. The only other solution is to make the NHL a non-contact sport.

[PIMking]

I thought the Union was there to help fight for better and safer working conditions?

[MissTeeks]

Some interesting stuff:

Mark Spector‏@SportsnetSpec2m
Suit says NHL made game more dangerous when it cut down on "clutch and grab" hockey, opened game up post-lockout.

Nick Cotsonika‏@cotsonika2m
Suit: Plaintiffs "reasonably relied on the NHL’s silence on this vital health issue as an indication that concussions were not dangerous."

Nick Cotsonika‏@cotsonika55s
Suit alleges NHL knew changing rules after the lockout would cause more concussions.

Craig Custance‏@CraigCustance2m
Interesting to me that nicknames are noted in this concussion lawsuit - like "Grim Reaper" or "The Enforcer." Is it for additional impact?

And here comes Mr. Cox:

Damien Cox‏@DamoSpin6m
Fascinating how the reflex reaction of so many is to side with the NHL in this lawsuit. Still. After so many years. Still backing the owners

Damien Cox‏@DamoSpin5m
That's challenge for 10 players. They're taking a chance of being ostracized. So many ex-players rely on NHL for jobs. #dontrocktheboat

Damien Cox‏@DamoSpin5m
I remember how so many badmouthed Carl Brewer when he was fighting league on pensions. Until he won, of course.

Damien Cox‏@DamoSpin1m
I mean, didn't those people working in the mines know it was dangerous? Shouldn't they have known to wear proper equipment?

[PeteMoss]

Its harder to support the players in situations like these when they are the ones holding out on wearing helmets and then visors and supporting fighting by large majorities.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Hmmm, CBC says Lindros is one of the 10, not on LeBrun's list.

Originally Posted by drewtastic

He goes by 'Morris Titanic' now (E5)..

Pretty sure that is his porn name.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Everybody is paying proper attention to head trauma. It is a contact sport and every player knows it. I think the NHL needs to put something in players contracts that states that by signing this contract you understand the risks involved in playing professional hockey and that you waive all rights to sue over injury or something to that effect. The only other solution is to make the NHL a non-contact sport.

This is similar to Tower builders in the 1930s saying, "we know this is a risky job and you might die, but signing the contract to work for us means that we aren't responsible for anything."

That's just not good enough. Players knowing that the sport is risky doesn't absolve the NHL from trying to make the game safer. Of course, the NHLPA is involved in the player safety as well.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Redrum

By the sounds of it, a bunch of guys drank/gambled/snorted away the money they made and are exploiting this concussion/fighting/breaking a fingernail BS for another paycheck. Just lie in the bed you made, turds.

Jesus Christ.

[flamesfever]

I would think that, with over 100 years of hockey, there should be enough evidence to determine the risk of concussion, and it's affect on mortality? One could ask why it took so long for these types of studies to be carried out.

I can see where insurance claims, resulting from the extremely high risk of concussion, eventually may force the NHL and players to take steps to further discourage fighting.

IMO it would really be no loss to reduce the frequency of fighting in the NHL. I have witnessed some of the best hockey of all time where fighting was at a minimum or disallowed e.g. NHL prior to expansion, Olympic hockey, various International tournaments, etc.