from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

Its mission is to help former players and their families who are in financial distress. Reasons vary, from failing health to salary mismanagement. Approximately 75 to 100 receive assistance from the fund at any time.

In 2009, former Montreal tough guy Chris Nilan received help from the fund. Nilan was living in Oregon after undergoing treatment for alcohol and painkiller abuse. Nilan accepted approximately $1,000 per month for about eight months.

“It wasn’t a lot of dough,” Nilan said. “But it was much-needed at the time. It really helped me out a lot the first few months.”

This season, under the guidance of senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan, the NHL has identified 33 acts worthy of fines or suspensions. The amount of fines is $1,574,204.01.

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