NHL Must Do Better on Concussions

The NFL has been making news by finally admitting it has a concussion problem. Now new research will shine the same spotlight on the NHL.

The New York Times today reported that researchers found that the corpse of fistfighter Reggie Fleming died in part from a neurogenetive disease caused by head trauma.

The news comes as nifty Congressman John Conyers held another hearing on head injuries in football.

In both sports, the ones who pay the nastiest price are the under-21 youth. Both leagues must act now out of common decency -- and to avoid overwhelming liability in the future.

Bring Back the Ties

I commented on this blog here.

I agree with Puck Daddy that the shootout is a cynical sideshow:

Comedy aside, the key phrase: "entertainment option." Which is what the shootout is, of course: A sideshow rather than an equitable and effective way to determine the winner of a professional team game. Hence the outrage.

Homophobia Has No Place in Hockey

Cheers to Brian Burke's son Brendan for stepping out of the closet.

Part of what I like in hockey is the diversity of nationalities represented. I am also upset when I hear that some people are discouraged from talking their native language.

Did NFL Concussion Experts Quit or Were They Fired?

The New York Times has a carefully written article that says that controversial head injury experts quit after extensive criticism of their lack of concern about head injuries.

The article says that Dr. Ira Casson and Dr. David Viano were members of the committee since 1994 and co-chairmen since 2007. The firing or quitting was announced on Tuesday and earlier, on Sunday, the NFL said it will work with the NFL Players' Association (NFLPA) to identify independent neurologists to say whether or not players are fit to play.

I am glad that the NFL is taking the first steps in addressing sport medicine, where doctors are encouraged to get players back on the field at the expense of their long term health.

I hope that the NHL will follow their example -- but first the NHL Players' Association (NHLPLA) will have to clean itself up.

FIFA Should Ban France's Gallas For World Cup Cheat

The Frenchman put the put in the back of the net by using his hand, winning the game for France over Ireland in a very controversial game.

FIFA should respond by letting the result stand but banning Galas from World Cup 2010.

Shrink the league!

THN's Ryan Kennedy makes a very good case.

I would add this -- go to 78 games:

Two groups of 7 teams in each conference

6 teams x 6 games = 36

7 teams x 4 games = 28

14 teams x 1 game (cross conference) = 14 games

Total: 78 games.

Phoenix and one other team would go (Isles?).

Young Defencemen on the Rise

Great article here.

I would highlight Yandle and Myers as players who will excel.

Another Head Shot, Another Test for the NHL

This time it was Andrew Ladd, ejected three minutes into the game for a head shot on D'Agostini. Ladd should be suspended -- but Richards should be too.

NHL Fails the Mike Richards Test

Mike Richards clearly intended to injure David Booth (17 second video) and although he got 5 minutes for intent to injure and thrown out of the game, he was not suspended for that act.

Today, RotoWire.com commentator Janet Eagleson (available on Yahoo).

She wrote, "there’s a huge difference between a good, hard check in the heat of the action and a headshot when the opponent’s guard is down."

She's write, and the NHL needs to do something about it.

Does the NFL Think the Concussion Problem Will Go Away?

The NY Times is not dropping the story.

The NHL should be proactive on this issue and not wait until it gets shamed into action.

NFL Still In Denial About Concussion Problem

Great story today in The NY Times.

The Quiet Defencemen

Which D is best for you depends on the fantasy system you're playing, but it's clear that some D are excellent but ignored. The ESPN rankings are useful for anyone playing ESPN's system, but more useful are the projections over at CBS.

Wideman, Keith, Edler, Visnovsky, Enstrom, Bogosian, and Martin all deserve a look, if they're available in your league.

That's especially true if you have a roster spot open due to injury (Gonchar) or due to a player not working well with his coach (Roszival).

I'm betting on Marc Andre Bergeron to do well in MON. I drop Carlo Colaiacovo for him -- and the STL D is also a good bet.

Note that +/- is a key stat, so try to pick D who play for winning teams -- the strong exceptions being Jovanovski and Streit.

That was a Clear slew foot

Cleary should be suspended for his attack on Kopitar

Watch NHL Center Ice

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A Secret Top 100 List at Yahoo.com?

No argument with who's number 1 but the ranking of the rest of the players (Chelios is #80, you'll never believe who's number 2) is quite surprising.

Any info on this?

Most of the other numbers don't make sense, but this one does.

Data Shows Head Injuries Harm NFL Players

The data is in, according to The New York Times, which reported today on a of the health of NFL players found that among those aged 30 to 49, the incidence of "dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other memory-related disease" is 19 times the national average, at 1.9 percent. Among those over 60, the rate was over 6 percent.

The study, conducted by University of Michigan Institute of Social Research covered 1,063 retired players in 2008. It should be taken seriously, especially by those running programs in high schools and colleges where kids often play through injuries and pay a permanent cost for it.

The Times article concludes:

"The league insisted that it was doing so only because the disease “affects many elderly people” well beyond N.F.L. players. And a pamphlet that the league gives every player about concussion risks states, 'Research is currently under way to determine if there are any long-term effects of concussion in N.F.L. athletes.'

'It's time to edit that brochure,' said Kevin Mawae of the Tennessee Titans, the president of the N.F.L. Players Association. 'Now it's in their words and not just other people's.'"

Notes About Lines

How ever good a player is, they won't have much of an impact unless they get more than 10 minutes a night or their name is Radulov.

Since Radulov's in Russia, I strongly recommend this excellent article from NHL.com about line combinations.

In ATLANTA, it's all about who gets to play with Kovalchuk, the guy who once scored six in a youth all star game. Right now, that looks like Antropov plus somebody else.

In BOSTON, it's about who gets to play with Savard, who put up a somewhat quiet 88 points in 82 games last year. Right now, the only person with a guaranteed spot on that line in Lucic.

Okposo's Concussion

The CBS Fantasy Hockey website has a great player news feature that today has disturbing information: Okposo was concussed by Dion Phaneuf during a game in Calgary yesterday.

I think this should take Okposo off your draft list -- and I hope that Okposo gets time to rest and heal.

I especially hope that Okposo doesn't play in the next Islanders game.

The NHL needs to take concussions seriously.

Brassard is for real

Derick Brassard was doing better than a point per game for the Columbus Blue Jackets when he got into a fight and sustained a shoulder injury that ended his season.

With a new contract worth $12.8 million over 4 years, Brassard's coach has to put him in a position to score. Expect much from him this year.

Canucks Sign Schneider and Acquire Ehrhoff -- Will Luongo Be Even Better?

The Vancouver Canucks signed Mattheu Schneider and acquired Ehrhoff and Lukowich from the San Jose Sharks.

This increases the value of Boyle and Blake back in San Jose and also increases the value of Canucks goalie Luongo. The effect of the addition of the defensemen on Canucks youth powerhouse Bieksa.