Deal reached on suit

Medical coverage key to agreement

The NHL announced a tentative $18.9 million settlement Monday with more than 300 retired players who sued the league and accused it of failing to protect them from head injuries or warning them of the risks involved with playing.

The lawsuit, consolidated in federal court in Minnesota, was by far the largest facing the league. The NHL, as it has for years, did not acknowledge any liability for the players’ claims in the proposed settlement and can terminate the deal if all 318 players or their estates don’t elect to participate.

The settlement is significantly less than the billiondollar agreement reached between the NFL and its former players on the same issue of head injuries. Each player who opts in would receive $22,000 and could be eligible for up to $75,000 in medical treatment.

“The cash amount of $22,000, that’s small, but we were always looking for [medical] coverage to begin with,” said former player Reed Larson, who was among the first to sue the league over head injuries that could lead to the brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. “The bottom line is this is monitoring, testing and hopefully help for players that will either have [CTE] now or could get it in the future.”

There is an opt-in period of 75 days for players. There were 146 players who added their names to the lawsuit as plaintiffs between November 2013 and this August and 172 more who joined as claimants.

In addition to the cash payment, the settlement includes neurological testing and assessment for players paid for by the league; up to $75,000 in medical treatment for players who test positive on two or more tests; and a “Common Good Fund” for retired players in need, including those who did not participate in the litigation, worth $2.5 million.

Kings

Goalie Jack Campbell will miss at least a month after surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his knee, leaving Los Angeles without its top two goalies. Jonathan Quick had surgery last month to repair a meniscus tear in his knee. Peter Budaj, who excelled in a stint as the starter during Quick’s last major injury absence two seasons ago, is the likely starter until Quick returns.

Rangers

Forward Pavel Buchnevich will miss four to six weeks with a broken thumb. Buchnevich, 23, was injured Saturday against Columbus after scoring a goal and adding an assist in a shootout victory. In 14 games, Buchnevich has nine points (five goals, four assists).