NHL to enhance its concussion protocol

Sabres re-sign lainen Ristolainen

NEW YORK, Oct 12, (RTRS): One day after one of the NHL’s biggest stars, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, was diagnosed with a concussion, the league, in partnership with the NHL Players’ Association, announced Tuesday the implementation of new policies and procedures to enhance its concussion protocol.

A new staff of central league spotters will monitor all games from the player-safety room in New York to help identify players who require evaluation.

They will be authorized to require a player’s removal from a game if he “exhibits certain visible signs under the protocol following a direct or indirect blow to the head,” according to a league release.

In-arena league spotters and on-ice officials will work in coordination with the New York-based spotters.

Also, clubs that do not remove a potentially concussed player will be subject to a mandatory minimum fine for a first offense, with increased fine amounts for any subsequent offense.

Crosby

The Buffalo Sabres took a bold step toward strengthening their back end by re-signing defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to a six-year, $32.4 million contract.

The 21-year-old Ristolainen, who was a restricted free agent, will receive an average annual salary of $5.4 million.

Ukrainian forward Ruslan Fedotenko announced his retirement from the National Hockey League just before the start of the 2016-17 regular season.

The 37-year-old two-time Stanley Cup winner played 863 career NHL games with five teams -- the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers -- in his 12 NHL seasons.

Veteran forward Kris Versteeg signed a one-year contract with the Calgary Flames.

The 30-year-old Alberta native scored one goal in four preseason games while on a professional tryout agreement with the Edmonton Oilers before signing with the Flames.

The Tampa Bay Lightning kept last season’s leading scorer in the fold by signing right wing Nikita Kucherov to a three-year contract.

Kucherov will make $4.766 million in annual salary, a significant upgrade from the $700,000 he earned last season.

The Carolina Hurricanes bolstered their depth on defense by claiming blue-liner Klas Dahlbeck on waivers from the Arizona Coyotes.

Dahlbeck collected two goals and six assists while averaging 15:43 of ice time in 71 games last season.

The

Detroit Red Wings assigned right wing Anthony Mantha to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League and placed veteran defenseman Niklas Kronwall on injured reserve.

Detroit opted to keep Andreas Athanasiou on its season-opening roster after the speedy 22-year-old scored nine goals in 37 games last season.

The New Jersey Devils took a step toward helping their struggling offense by claiming veteran forward P.A. Parenteau off waivers.

Parenteau was released by the New York Islanders on Monday, just over three months after signing a one-year, $1.25 million contract.

The Minnesota Wild added forward depth by claiming Teemu Pulkkinen off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings.

Pulkkinen collected 11 goals, nine assists and 26 penalty minutes in 70 games over parts of three seasons with Detroit.