- SportsNet: Rogers has acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights to every NHL game in Canada for $5.2 billion for 12 years, starting next season.
The deal—the largest of its kind in NHL history—also includes the NHL Centre Ice and NHL Game Centre Live properties, as well as rights to the All-Star Game and the NHL Draft. This is the first time a major league in North America has made such a long-term commitment to a single company.
Rogers sub-licensed CBC for Hockey Night in Canada and TVA for French broadcasts. The NHL Board of Governors will vote on it in December.
- Nick Cotsonika: Deal basically works out to $7.2 million per year per team. (Total, divided by players share, by 30 then by 12)
- Jason Brough of Pro Hockey Talk: From the AP:
Ten former National Hockey League players are claiming in a class-action lawsuit that the league hasn’t done enough to protect players from concussions.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Washington, seeks damages to be determined at trial. The players are also seeking court-approved medical monitoring for their brain trauma and/or injuries, which they blame on their NHL careers.
The ex-hockey players claim that the NHL purposely concealed the risks of brain injuries faced by players, exposing them to unnecessary dangers.
- Melowens.com: Document for the players suing the NHL. Class action complaint filed in the US District court for the District of Columbia.
- Yahoo Sports NHL: NHL deputy commish Bill Daly statement: “We are aware of the class action lawsuit filed today in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of a group of former NHL Players. While the subject matter is very serious, we are completely satisfied with the responsible manner in which the League and the Players’ Association have managed Player safety over time, including with respect to head injuries and concussions. We intend to defend the case vigorously and have no further comment at this time.”
- Nick Cotsonika: Players that are named in the suit are: Gary Leeman, Brad Aitken, Darren Banks, Curt Bennett, Richard Dunn, Warren Holmes, Bob Manno, Blair Stewart, Morris Titanic and Rick Vaive.
- Allan Walsh: Some key questions: “1. Did the NHL (and their doctors) know that repeated blows to the head could result in impaired brain function? 2. Did the NHL properly inform players of the risks from repeated blows to the head? A player may receive 1000 separate blows per season. 3. How many former players, apart from than the original 10 will seek to join this class action lawsuit?”
- Colorado Avalanche: Semyon Varlamov will start on Wednesday and Saturday, J.S. will start in Minnesota.
- Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune: Blackhawks Michal Handzus returned to the lineup last night after missing 14 games with an upper-body injury. Marian Hossa missed his second straight game due to a family matter. He’ll rejoin the team for Wednesday’s game.
- Kristen Odland: The Flames have recalled defenseman Chris Breen from the AHL. He had been on a conditioning stint.
- Josh Rimer: Has been told that the NHL looked at Dion Phaneuf’s hit and deemed it clean.