Whenever Gary Bettman talks publicly about brain injuries, which isn’t often, his measured, thoughtful manner wobbles. He knows that Gary Bettman the lawyer, questioning Gary Bettman the commissioner, would rip him apart.

He has been the NHL’s commissioner for 26 years. During his first decade, the consequences of brain injuries in hockey might not have been broadly appreciated. There can be no such argument about these last 10 years. Ten years of willful blindness, 10 years of drinking your own Kool-Aid, 10 years of ragging the puck, of managing not doing, are enough.

If Bettman keeps refusing to do what needs to be done, and there is no evidence he’ll change, maybe it’s time for a few of the NHL owners to say to him, “Gary, you’re a great fighter. Let’s fight the fight we need to win.”

-Ken Dryden at the Toronto Sun where you can read more on this topic.