Tag: NHL Players’ Association

Hockey / NHL / Olympics

NHL Players’ Return to the Winter Olympics May be Closer than Expected

On February 8, 2020, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman tweeted that “the [International Olympic Committee] and [International Ice Hockey Federation] indicated a willingness . . . to address NHL issues to get players to go to 2022 Olympics.” This is a significant change in the NHL’s previous anti-Olympic stance.

The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea marked the first time in 20 years that NHL players were absent. The players were overwhelmingly in favor of playing in the 2018 games; however, the NHL balked at the …

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Litigation / NHL

Wideman’s 10-Game Suspension Stands Despite NHL’s Insistence that Arbitrator Overstepped his Bounds

A New York federal judge recently confirmed the decision of James Oldham, an arbitrator, to reduce Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman’s suspension for hitting a referee.

As background, in January, 2016 Wideman was hit by another player while on the ice, which caused him to suffer a concussion. As he was skating to his bench, Wideman — looking dazed and confused — collided with a referee, Henderson. Henderson hit the ground and suffered from a concussion. The commissioner suspended Wideman for the minimum amount …

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Litigation / NHL

Dispute Over NHL Player’s 20-Game Suspension Continues

The dispute over defenseman Dennis Wideman’s 20-game suspension for knocking a referee to the ice after being body slammed into the boards has created many questions in the NHL. Initially, there was an issue over whether players should be liable for conduct that occurs immediately after a head injury. The NHL seemingly thought this issue was resolved when the NHL Commissioner enforced the 20-game suspension against Wideman; however, that was not the end.

The NHL Players’ Association and Wideman appealed the suspension to a neutral …

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Concussions / NHL

NHL Concussion Lawsuit: NHL Seeks Discovery from Canadian Doctors

The NHL has filed a new discovery motion in the concussion lawsuit, which was brought by former players and consolidated in Minnesota as a multidistrict litigation in August 2014. The motion, filed on November 25, 2015, asks the court to seek help from the Ontario Superior Court in order to compel certain Canadian doctors to disclose documents.

The 100-plus plaintiff players claim that the NHL failed to ensure player safety. It is alleged that the league failed to ensure players’ full recoveries following head injuries …

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