A settlement has been offered from the NHL in the NHL concussion lawsuit. However, it won’t be nearly enough to cover up the league’s most significant black eye.
There’s a pink elephant in the NHL. One that the league is trying to hide under a blanket, but anyone can plainly see – the NHL concussion lawsuit. The league has been, at best, indifferent when protecting their players. Especially if you consider their efforts versus those of their direct competitors – the NFL, NBA, and MLB.
This lawsuit began back in November of 2013. It has since grown to over 140 players. A tentative settlement has been reached, according to the league. The settlement, reportedly worth $18.922 million, is not official yet, but any player who agrees to it will receive $22,000. This award will be available to any player who either joined the lawsuit or hired a lawyer to do so before Nov. 1.
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Additionally, those players will have certain expenses covered, including testing for several neurological diseases. Travel expenses for those who have to go over 100 miles for treatment will be covered as well.
The red tape of the settlement, however, is a bit interesting. As a part of the settlement, the NHL announced they have no liability, but they accept the settlement regardless.
This brings up an interesting question – if the league isn’t liable, why are they agreeing to a settlement? That doesn’t sound like something a completely innocent party would do. The NHL might be trying to hide their misdeeds with smoke and mirrors, but the way they’ve dealt with concussions remains a black eye on its face.
While some of the players in the lawsuit might take the money and run, it appears Daniel Carcillo won’t be doing that. As bad as the NFL was at denying the impact concussions had, at least they eventually wised up and started doing everything possible to prevent them. The NHL cannot honestly say that. This is something everyone responsible for their dereliction of the duty of protecting the players will have to take to their grave.
The league still doesn’t treat concussions and head injuries as seriously as it ought to. Nor does the NHLPA, for that matter. When players get suspended for hits to the head, who does the union defend? The offender. Not the victim. Imagine how Oskar Sundqvist must feel, with the NHLPA defending Tom Wilson by implying Sundqvist did something wrong by lowering his head.
From a distance, it might seem like the tentative settlement is the end of what has been a farce for everyone involved. However, it might not even be a solution and could mark the beginning of an even larger fight, led by Carcillo and the other players who don’t elect to take the settlement.