A number of internal NHL emails have recently been released as part of the ongoing lawsuit against the league, and they reveal an upsetting attitude towards concussions.

One exchange between Commissioner Gary Bettman and then-Senior VP of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan reads, “Any more concussions?” “Not so far.” “Night is young!” Another time, Executive Vice President of Communications Gary Meagher wrote, “The nhl has never been in the business of trying to make the game safer at all levels and we have never tried to sell the fact that this is who we are…”

The last few years have seen many major sport organizations paying for perceived nonchalance or outright neglect regarding concussions. In truth, these NHL emails are out of context, and they are less disturbing than many similar reports in the professional athletics world. Nevertheless, concussions are serious matters, and high-ranking officials cannot take them lightly or absolve themselves of responsibility. Their positions give them the ability to protect hockey players’ heads; that they would choose not to do so is disappointing.

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