Former players file concussion lawsuit
Former All-Star defenseman Gary Leeman is among those who filed a suit contending NHL didn't do enough to protect players.
TEN FORMER NHL players, including All-Star defenseman Gary Leeman, claimed in a class-action lawsuit that the league hasn't done enough to protect players from concussions.
The lawsuit seeks damages and court-approved, NHL-sponsored medical monitoring for the players' brain trauma and/or injuries, which they blame on their NHL careers. It was filed in federal court in Washington on behalf of players who retired on or before Feb. 14 of this year and have suffered such injuries.
The suit comes just 3 months after the NFL agreed to pay $765 million to settle lawsuits from former players who developed dementia or other concussion-related health problems.
Among other things, the suit claims that the NHL knew, or should have known, about scientific evidence that players who sustain repeated head injuries are at greater risk for illnesses and disabilities both during their hockey careers and later in life.
Bill Daly, the league's deputy commissioner, issued a statement yesterday: "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. We intend to defend the case vigorously and have no further comment at this time."
Noteworthy
* Los Angeles activated forward Jeff Carter and moved goalie Jonathan Quick (groin) to the injured list. Carter hasn't played since Oct. 30, missing 10 games with a foot injury.
* Tampa Bay star Steven Stamkos is walking without crutches or a boot 2 weeks after breaking his right leg crashing in the post. Stamkos, who had surgery to stabilize a fractured shin bone on Nov. 12, said he expects to play again this season.
In games last night
* At Newark, N.J., Ondrej Pavelec made 25 saves in earning his 100th NHL win, and the Winnipeg Jets snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the New Jersey Devils, 3-1.
Mark Scheifele and Evander Kane scored in the first two periods as the Jets opened a season-high six-game road trip by completing a two-game, season-series sweep of the Devils, who lost their second straight game.
* At Toronto, Cam Atkinson and R.J. Umberger 20 seconds apart in the first period, and Ryan Johansen added two goals as the Columbus Blue Jackets routed the Maple Leafs, 6-0. Sergei Bobrovsky made 18 saves for his fifth career NHL shutout.
* At Boston, Torey Krug scored 34 seconds into overtime and the Bruins beat Pittsburgh, 4-3, snapping a seven-game regular-season losing streak to the Penguins.
Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby scored with 0.3 seconds left in regulation to tie it.
* At Tampa, Fla., Martin St. Louis had two goals and an assist and Ben Bishop had 37 saves as the Tampa Bay Lightning shut out the New York Rangers, 5-0.
* At St. Louis, Jaroslav Halak had 22 saves and Alexander Steen had two goals as the Blues beat Minnesota, 3-0.
* At Nashville, Nick Spaling, Mike Fisher and Gabriel Bourque scored first-period goals to lead the Predators over the Phoenix Coyotes, 4-2.
* At Edmonton, Chicago scored in the first period on a shorthanded goal by Jonathan Toews and a power-play goal by Patrick Kane to trigger a 5-1 win over the Oilers.
* At Vancouver, Anze Kopitar scored 48 seconds into overtime, finishing off the Los Angeles Kings' come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Canucks.