Kukla's Korner Hockey

Afternoon Line- Ken Dryden On Concussions
by Paul on 06/15/18 at 12:11 PM ET
Comments (3)
For Gary Bettman, this can still be a huge win. It’s easy for any of us to see what’s wrong, even to see what’s right. What’s hard is to do right. Gary Bettman is the one who can do right, and only he can. The achievement would be his. A game that’s just as exciting to play and to watch, where the number of life-transforming head injuries to its players is drastically reduced. If he does help move the league to take these steps: no hits to the head — no excuses — some will say, sure, but it took him so long. Yet a few months after that others will say, and say rightly, yes, but at least he did act. That’s what matters.
-Ken Dryden at The Athletic where you can read more ($$$) on this topic.
Filed in: NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: gary+bettman,
ken+dryden
Comments

Posted by Down River Dan on 06/15/18 at 12:58 PM ET
Well said.
Posted by CharDeeMacDennis on 06/15/18 at 01:04 PM ET

100 agree DRD. Been saying it for a few years now. Perfect examples too.
Posted by ThatGuy on 06/15/18 at 01:23 PM ET
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I grew up living this sport, and still love it, but it really bothers me that so many guys are being forced from the game at younger and younger ages dye to concussion. To hear that Johan Franzen has had such a struggle due to his concussions makes me feel somewhat guilty of continuing to enjoy hockey.
I tend to agree with most of what Ken Dryden is suggesting. I think the NHL will never admit what the research is showing to the players brains, and will not make any major changes because lawyers will insist this would put them in potential legal limbo.
However, the league and Players could both agree to changes that would potentially reduce some of the nasty head hits. I really hope someone with common sense will rethink the football shoulder pads and ballistic material elbow pads. I truly believe that they could revert back to foam pads without putting the players at risk to shoulder or arm injury. The league mandated helmets and face shields. I can’t believe that they wouldn’t evaluate getting rid of what really are weapons rather than protection.
Guys like Chelios and Shanahan played 20 years with essentially felt pads for shoulder pads without any issue. It seems such a simple change that could have such a dramatic reduction in head injuries.
Ok, I’m stepping off my soapbox.
Posted by Down River Dan on 06/15/18 at 12:58 PM ET