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Devils winger Ryane Clowe has had multiple concussions during his NHL career.

(Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger)

The controversial and potentially sport-changing issue of head injuries in hockey has reached the courts now that 10 former NHL players have filed a class-action lawsuit claiming the league hasn't sufficiently protected players from concussions.



For the Devils, head injuries and the role of the NHL in trying to cut down on concussions, truly hits home.

Winger Ryane Clowe has been sidelined since Oct. 13 with concussion-like symptoms. Top rookie prospect Jon Merrill has just returned after missing six games with a concussion. And captain Bryce Salvador missed the entire 2010-11 season with a cochlear concussion.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, seeks damages and court-approved, league-sponsored medical monitoring for brain trauma and injuries which they say resulted from playing in the NHL.

“You see it happening in other sports, right? It’s turned on a red light, especially in hockey,” said Devils forward Patrik Elias, who missed 10 games with a concussion after a hit from Avalanche defenseman Ryan Wilson during a Jan. 16, 2010, game in Colorado.

“There might have been teams that didn’t care that you played (with a head injury). They said it’s okay. That’s why there is a lot more caution. There is standard protocol that has to be followed now.”

The suit claims the NHL knew or should have known as far back as 1997 that players were at great risk for head injuries, but took no significant action.

There are some who believe the playing career of Scott Stevens, perhaps the most influential player in Devils history, was cut short because of a concussion he suffered when hit by in the head a Pavel Kubina slap shot during Game 3 of the 2003 semifinals against Tampa Bay. It was not the first concussion Stevens suffered during his career.

Others have been more fortunate.

"Thankfully I was pretty lucky with (head) injuries. I don't know the feeling and I hope I never know," Jaromir Jagr said. "Those are tough injuries. It happens not only in hockey, but in American football."



Some suggest rule changes in the NHL spedding up the game have made it even more dangerous.

“I’ve been saying for the last few years they have to put the red line back in,” former Devils center Jim Dowd said. “Guys are flying around. You don’t have to go back to the old way totally, but I wouldn’t want to be a defenseman. It’s crazy.”

Jagr said: “It’s tough to say the rule changes made it more dangerous. I never thought about that.”

The lawsuit against the NHL comes three months after the NFL agreed to pay $765 million to settle suits from thousands of former players who developed dementia or other concussion-related health problems.

In the suit against the NHL, fighting, body-checking and head-hunting are mentioned as factors that promote a "culture of violence" that makes the game dangerous still.



Rookie defenseman Eric Gelinas conceded there are risks and head injuries will occur.

"It's part of the game. Hockey is fast. That's going to happen," Gelinas said. "I think they're doing a better job now avoiding hits to the head. It's a fast, physical game. Everyone is bigger, stronger, faster. That's the way it is now."



The Devils were given a day off on Tuesday. They will host the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night at Prudential Center and then face the 'Canes Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.

