Emails revealing look at NHL’s hierarchy
Ongoing legal drama shows how league was slow to shake outdated thinking
The trail of emails made public as part of the NHL’s concussion lawsuit in Minneapolis reveal how the issue was dealt with at the highest levels of the NHL.
Here’s a look at who’s who in the ongoing concussion drama:
(The Star is publishing the emails without correcting spelling, capitalization or grammar.)
THE LAWYER
Gary Bettman
Bettman has been commissioner of the NHL since Feb. 1, 1993, and the tone of his emails reflect his training as a lawyer. Rarely an untoward word said, and his is the final word on all matters.
“i do not believe we are in the same situation as football and i do not believe the nfl lawsuots should “put at risk” . among other things, we have been the leaders in the area of concussions and have set the standard on diagnosis, treatment and rule changes at the professional level.”
— Bettman, in a 2011 email to Canadiens owner Geoff Molson
“i think we went too far. this is sensitive territory and we need to be very careful.”
— Bettman, to Brendan Shanahan and Bill Daly after Shanahan — then in charge of player safety — told the CBC the league officials “have... to look at fighting.”
“I believe the fighting and possible concussions could aggravate a condition, but if you think about the tragedies there were probably certain predispositions. Again, thought, the bigger issue is whether the pa (NHL Players Association) would consent to in effect eliminate a certain type of “role” and player. And, if they don’t, we might try to do it anyway and take the “fight” (pun intended).
— Bettman, to Daly and Shanahan on Sept. 3, 2011, after the death of former enforcer Wade Belak.
THE PROGRESSIVE
Brendan Shanahan
Now president of the Maple Leafs, Shanahan took over from Colin Campbell as the league’s chief disciplinarian on June 1, 2011, and moved the needle on player safety.
“I believe that fighting as a tool or strategy is leaving the game of hockey and we can either lead or follow.”
— Shahanan, in a Feb. 2, 2012 email to Bettman and other top executives in the league in response to a New York Times story about the elimination of fighting in junior hockey.
“I do think that teams are taking proper precautions when it comes to concussion-like symptoms. Gone are the days u sat on the bench and barked at the trainer that u were find and went right back out onto the ice. The “quiet room” was ridiculed by the media but the reality is that its catching/identifying more of these players that, as we used to say, “got my bell rung.” Now, some are coming back in 7-10 days instead of 7-10 months after sustaining that 2nd more devastating concussion while they went back out with “their bell rung.”
— Shanahan, on Dec. 28, 2011, to Mathieu Schneider of the NHLPA and senior members of the league.
“If we keep this simply about concussions and brain injuries then how can they (the NHLPA) argue against it. This is not the same role as it was in the 80’s and 90’s.
Fighters used to aspire to become regular players. Train and practice to move up from 4th line to 3rd. Now they train and practice becoming more fearsome fighters.
They used to take alcohol or cocaine to cope. (Kordic)
Now they take pills. Pills to sleep. Pills to wake up. Pills to ease pain. Pills to amp up. Getting them online.”
— Shanahan to Bettman on Sept. 3, 2011, following Belak’s death.
THE WAFFLER
Colin Campbell
A former player and former coach, Campbell wrestles with the “old school” of fighting with new thinking about concussions. But as the league’s chief disciplinarian before Shanahan, he never quite came to a conclusion.
“Burkie ... I love a good fight. Who had Probie and Joey in their first years?”
— Campbell, in a March 3, 2007 exchange with Brian Burke, then GM of the Anaheim Ducks.
“I am not. Just covering my ass. Some one had to have the balls to ask the question. Dave started it by taking all the great shoulder hits out.”
— Campbell, responding to a question from Steve Spott (then a junior hockey coach) who had heard Campbell was an advocate of removing fighting from hockey.
“I am thinking of coming out and saying it’s time... to get rid of fighting... or at least take major steps to reduce it. I will nee my bosses ok but thinking strongly of it. I hated fighting... had to do to it though ... par- ticularly in the 70’s but it’s stupid. I don’t remember one good fight on pond hockey or ball hockey.”
— Campbell, in a Jan.12, 2009 email exchange with TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
“I am really flipping back and forth on this issue of where fighting “sits”.
— Campbell, in an Oct. 14, 2013 exchange with TSN’s Darren Dreger, discussing the seizure suffered by a USHL player after he fell and hit his head on the ice during a fight.
OLD SCHOOLER
Mike Murphy
Murphy is a former player and coach (Kings, Leafs). He has been Campbell’s trusted lieutenant in hockey operations.
“I think about when we played........ head shots? that was life in the League .........you stood up for yourselve and your coach and GM told you to have some balls or go home! .... I must be getting old.
— Murphy, on Oct. 14, 2006, to Campbell.
“There has always been a responsibility for the puck carrier to play the game and handle the puck with his head were all told at a young your head up ..knowing full well if we had our head down we were vulnerable to a hard and damaging hit..... Head checking (penalties) will exonerate the puck carrier from his responsibility ....with that you have a different type of game.... less physical, less combative, etc. ... one we probably won’t like.”
— Murphy, in a Nov. 10, 2008 email to Bettman.