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| Concussions a bigger concern for NHL bosses than they say, documents show | Concussions a bigger concern for NHL bosses than they say, documents show |
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| National Hockey League officials internally acknowledged the connection between brain trauma suffered during hockey fights and “personal tragedies” stemming from “depression,” court documents show. | National Hockey League officials internally acknowledged the connection between brain trauma suffered during hockey fights and “personal tragedies” stemming from “depression,” court documents show. |
| The Minnesota court, presiding over a class-action lawsuit brought against the NHL by former players, released internal emails between Commissioner Gary Bettman and several of his lieutenants. They showed a far starker concern over concussions than the league’s public comments, which have served to downplay the sport’s danger and attempted to distance the NHL from the National Football League and its concussion crisis. | The Minnesota court, presiding over a class-action lawsuit brought against the NHL by former players, released internal emails between Commissioner Gary Bettman and several of his lieutenants. They showed a far starker concern over concussions than the league’s public comments, which have served to downplay the sport’s danger and attempted to distance the NHL from the National Football League and its concussion crisis. |
| More than 100 players in the suit are fighting for enhanced medical care and claim the NHL has not done enough to promote player safety or assist damaged former players. NHL officials have argued players should have “put two and two together” in assessing the health risks of professional hockey. | More than 100 players in the suit are fighting for enhanced medical care and claim the NHL has not done enough to promote player safety or assist damaged former players. NHL officials have argued players should have “put two and two together” in assessing the health risks of professional hockey. |
| On Sept. 3, 2011, shortly after NHL enforcers Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak died in a span of four months, then-NHL senior vice president Brendan Shanahan emailed Bettman an article from The Globe and Mail in Toronto on eliminating so-called goons. Bettman replied to Shanahan, adding deputy commissioner Bill Daly, with a screed against the players association and leader Donald Fehr. | On Sept. 3, 2011, shortly after NHL enforcers Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak died in a span of four months, then-NHL senior vice president Brendan Shanahan emailed Bettman an article from The Globe and Mail in Toronto on eliminating so-called goons. Bettman replied to Shanahan, adding deputy commissioner Bill Daly, with a screed against the players association and leader Donald Fehr. |
| “Do you remember what happened when we tried to eliminate the staged fights?” Bettman wrote. “The ‘fighters’ objected and so did the pa. Eliminating fighting would mean eliminating the jobs of the ‘fighters’, meaning that these guys would not have NHL careers. An interesting question is whether being an NHL fighter does this to you (I don’t believe so) or whether a certain type of person (who wouldn’t otherwise be skilled enough to be an NHL player) gravitates to this job (I believe more likely).” | “Do you remember what happened when we tried to eliminate the staged fights?” Bettman wrote. “The ‘fighters’ objected and so did the pa. Eliminating fighting would mean eliminating the jobs of the ‘fighters’, meaning that these guys would not have NHL careers. An interesting question is whether being an NHL fighter does this to you (I don’t believe so) or whether a certain type of person (who wouldn’t otherwise be skilled enough to be an NHL player) gravitates to this job (I believe more likely).” |
| Daly, the NHL’s chief legal officer, indicated a connection between fighting and depression. | Daly, the NHL’s chief legal officer, indicated a connection between fighting and depression. |
| “I tend to think its a little bit of both,” Daly wrote. “Fighting raises the incidence of head injuries/concussions, which raises the incidence of depression onset, which raises the incidence of personal tragedies.” | “I tend to think its a little bit of both,” Daly wrote. “Fighting raises the incidence of head injuries/concussions, which raises the incidence of depression onset, which raises the incidence of personal tragedies.” |
| Bettman’s reply indicated the NHL would consider trying to eliminate fighting, even if it meant a battle with the players association. | Bettman’s reply indicated the NHL would consider trying to eliminate fighting, even if it meant a battle with the players association. |
| “I believe the fighting and possible concussions could aggravate a condition, but if you think about the tragedies there were probably certain predispositions,” Bettman replied. “Again, though, the bigger issue is whether the pa would consent to in effect eliminate a certain type of ‘role’ and player. And, if they don’t, we might try to do it anyway and take the ‘fight’ (pun intended).” | “I believe the fighting and possible concussions could aggravate a condition, but if you think about the tragedies there were probably certain predispositions,” Bettman replied. “Again, though, the bigger issue is whether the pa would consent to in effect eliminate a certain type of ‘role’ and player. And, if they don’t, we might try to do it anyway and take the ‘fight’ (pun intended).” |
| “I think you’re right,” Shanahan replied. “The previous regime at the pa definitely would fight it. But I thought their current position on illegal checks to the head is that it should encompass ALL contact. If we keep this simply about concussions and brain injuries then how can they argue against it. | “I think you’re right,” Shanahan replied. “The previous regime at the pa definitely would fight it. But I thought their current position on illegal checks to the head is that it should encompass ALL contact. If we keep this simply about concussions and brain injuries then how can they argue against it. |
| “This is not the same role as it was in the 80’s and 90’s. Fighters used to aspire to become regular players. Train and practice to move from 4th line to 3rd. Now they train and practice becoming more fearsome fighters. | “This is not the same role as it was in the 80’s and 90’s. Fighters used to aspire to become regular players. Train and practice to move from 4th line to 3rd. Now they train and practice becoming more fearsome fighters. |
| “They used to take alcohol or cocaine to cope. (Kordic) Now they take pills. Pills to sleep. Pills to wake up. Pills to ease pain. Pills to amp up. Getting them online.” | “They used to take alcohol or cocaine to cope. (Kordic) Now they take pills. Pills to sleep. Pills to wake up. Pills to ease pain. Pills to amp up. Getting them online.” |
| “Agree, but remember you are about to try to take a certain type of player (or aspiring player) and tell him his ability to earn more money than he could probably make doing anything else is over!” Bettman replied. “The current head of union spent a decade in baseball protecting steroid users over what was best for the vast majority of his players and the game.” | “Agree, but remember you are about to try to take a certain type of player (or aspiring player) and tell him his ability to earn more money than he could probably make doing anything else is over!” Bettman replied. “The current head of union spent a decade in baseball protecting steroid users over what was best for the vast majority of his players and the game.” |
| In 2015, Bettman said there is “no evidence” that concussion lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Earlier this month, after NFL vice president Jeff Miller acknowledged a link between football and CTE, Bettman attempted to distance hockey from football. | In 2015, Bettman said there is “no evidence” that concussion lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Earlier this month, after NFL vice president Jeff Miller acknowledged a link between football and CTE, Bettman attempted to distance hockey from football. |
| “Well, first of all, I don’t feel that it’s either necessary or appropriate for me to comment on what the NFL says or does,” Bettman told reporters. “Secondly, I think it’s fairly clear that playing hockey isn’t the same as football. And as we’ve said all along, we’re not going to get into a public debate on this.” | “Well, first of all, I don’t feel that it’s either necessary or appropriate for me to comment on what the NFL says or does,” Bettman told reporters. “Secondly, I think it’s fairly clear that playing hockey isn’t the same as football. And as we’ve said all along, we’re not going to get into a public debate on this.” |
| In August 2014, court documents show, Michael Berland, formerly an NHL communications head and now CEO of the research firm Edelman Berland, sent NHL communications director Gary Meagher an analysis of media perception of the NHL’s concussion issue and asked for his thoughts. | In August 2014, court documents show, Michael Berland, formerly an NHL communications head and now CEO of the research firm Edelman Berland, sent NHL communications director Gary Meagher an analysis of media perception of the NHL’s concussion issue and asked for his thoughts. |
| “I could sum up in one line,” Meagher replied. “NFL is in the business of selling that they are making the game of football safer at all levels — it is smoke and mirrors but they are masters of smoke and mirrors. The nhl has never been in the business of trying to make the game safer at all levels and we have never tried to sell the fact that this is who we are. The question is: should we be in that business and if we were, what could we possibly achieve without throwing millions of dollars at education.” | “I could sum up in one line,” Meagher replied. “NFL is in the business of selling that they are making the game of football safer at all levels — it is smoke and mirrors but they are masters of smoke and mirrors. The nhl has never been in the business of trying to make the game safer at all levels and we have never tried to sell the fact that this is who we are. The question is: should we be in that business and if we were, what could we possibly achieve without throwing millions of dollars at education.” |
| “Very cynical, Gary,” Berland replied. “Is that your real response?” | “Very cynical, Gary,” Berland replied. “Is that your real response?” |
| “Not cynical at all,” Meagher replied. “NFL invests hundreds of thousands of dollars each year around their pr campaign to deal with violence. They produce concussion websites, send former players around teaching young players how to play the game safer, they produce videos for young football players I could go on and on. We do none of that and don’t view it as an important part of our mandate. NFL views their role as being leaders in the game of football.” | “Not cynical at all,” Meagher replied. “NFL invests hundreds of thousands of dollars each year around their pr campaign to deal with violence. They produce concussion websites, send former players around teaching young players how to play the game safer, they produce videos for young football players I could go on and on. We do none of that and don’t view it as an important part of our mandate. NFL views their role as being leaders in the game of football.” |
| Internally, safety issues have preoccupied the NHL’s top officials for years. In December 2011, Bettman emailed Shanahan, Daly and executive Collin Campbell during a handful of games after then-Philadelphia Flyers rookie Sean Couturier suffered a head injury. | |
| “Can you believe this run of injuries,” Bettman wrote. “Couturier just took a puck to the head.” | “Can you believe this run of injuries,” Bettman wrote. “Couturier just took a puck to the head.” |
| “Another busy night,” Shanahan replied. | “Another busy night,” Shanahan replied. |
| “How bad?” Bettman asked. | “How bad?” Bettman asked. |
| Shanahan detailed two incidents in other games, including one he suspected might draw a suspension. | Shanahan detailed two incidents in other games, including one he suspected might draw a suspension. |
| “Any concussions?” Bettman asked. | “Any concussions?” Bettman asked. |
| “Not so far,” Shanahan replied. | “Not so far,” Shanahan replied. |
| “Night is young!” Bettman wrote. | “Night is young!” Bettman wrote. |