On January of 2011, Boston Bruins star Marc Savard only ten months after recovering from post concussion syndrome was blindsided by Pittsburgh Penguins player Matt Cooke. Savard was immediately concussed and a few months later retired from the NHL. Concussions are a traumatic brain injury caused by a hit, which causes the brain to move around in the skull. This causes a chemical change in the brain that can alter a person’s behavior and personality drastically (What is a concussion?). Numerous players including Savard have discussed the issues that concussions have created in their lives. Sadly, Marc is by far not the only player to suffer from the side effects. In research that Brian Benson did, he found that in only one NHL season “Team physicians reported 559 concussions during regular season games” (Results). This is a ridiculous issue that players endure and as more players discuss their problems with concussions and post concussion syndrome, the NHL must realize how the numerous concussions that players endure affect the players severely. The NHL must protect players from concussions in order to prevent the players from suffering through the financial and mental problems concussions bring. Players take life changing and possibly career ending hits that have the ability to temporarily and permanently change their personality and life. Studies show that these players have a higher chance of developing dementia, depression, and conditions such as CTE. Players who retire are also forced to miss out on huge financial opportunities because of missed salaries. There are an absurd amount of concussions considering at one there are 600 players on NHL rosters at one time. This is including noncontact players like goalies who do not take direct hits from other players. Concussions have been playing a major role in the NHL and with more research being released concussions are becoming a serious issue. 

The CDC (Center for disease control) defines concussions to be: “a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells” (CDC what is a concussion?). These chemical changes in the brain can lead to a variety of mental and personality changes. The symptoms of concussions range from short-term memory loss, fatigue, irritability, depression and much more. Many players often suffer from these symptoms and from a condition known as second impact syndrome or SIS. Second impact syndrome is where a player who has suffered an initial concussion suffers another concussion while still symptomatic. Second impact syndrome causes a huge spike in blood pressure within the brain causing the capillaries to dilate which disrupts the constant flow of blood to the brain. This causes the brain to swell and causes more damage to it (Cantu 28).  This has long-term effects on the player and can lead to exaggerated symptoms of normal concussions. Players who continually suffer from concussions and SIS are at an increased chance of suffering from post concussion syndrome. Post concussion syndrome has a wide variety of effects on a person’s personality, often causing depression, loss of peripheral vision, headaches, and dizziness. These symptoms can often be life long and life changing to a player.  Players who suffer these often retire due to health and safety issues.

Concussions in the NHL are a recurring issue that the NHL is not overly concerned about. Toronto GM Brian Burke said, “I think if you look at the number of concussions and the man-games lost, you can say it's an epidemic… I don't see an epidemic when I watch the game. I don't sense a problem” (Stricter Rules on Head Hits Believed to Be Paying Off, 2012). The epidemic is not always during the player’s career; many former hockey players still suffer from post concussion syndrome. Former NHL star Marc Savard who retired because of concussions said “I saw probably 10 doctors, and nine of them said it ain’t worth it’’ (I still should be playing, Grossfeld). According to the doctors Savard saw, the damage he had sustained to his brain in his thirteen years in the NHL caused enough damage to his brain to end his promising career. After his final concussion Savard went from being an All-star hockey player to someone who continuously suffered from head pain, memory loss, depression, and more. Savard is by far not the only player to suffer one or more concussions in his career. With the number of concussions increasing drastically in the 2011-2012 season the issue is increasing drastically. When asked about the amount of concussions suffered by players Vice President of hockey operations for the NHL Kris King said: “We are the same this year as last year”(Stricter Rules on Head Hits Believed to Be Paying Off, 2012). If more was being done to protect players the increased spike in concussions that happened the year before should decrease. A study shows that over 559 concussions were diagnosed in only one NHL season (Benson). Including back up players, this means that the vast majority of players suffered from at least one concussion. Many people believe that the improvement of helmets will reduce the concussion rate, however helmets are actually not used to prevent concussions rather they are for the prevention of skull fracture (Camarillo). This reality causes a larger need for rule changes regarding hits that are dangerous such as hits to the head and need stricter fines or suspensions. The level of negligence within the NHL organization puts players at risk to suffer from the enduring effects concussions and post concussion syndrome.

Concussions suffered by NHL players come with serious side effects. Short-term side effects of concussions include dizziness, vision impairment, confusion, vision impairment, and sometimes-even unconsciousness. In an interview with Grossfeld Marc Savard discussed one of his concussions after being blindsided “I said, ‘Donny, I don’t know what’s wrong here, but I’m dying. I can’t see anything.’ And my eyes were open, so I was quite scared there.” These side effects are extremely dangerous to player’s safety. The loss of peripheral vision and sometimes vision in one eye disables the player from seeing oncoming threats. This could lead to a blindsided hit and second impact syndrome. Another serious short-term side effect of concussions is depression. Players who suffer concussions are removed from the locker room to prevent distractions. This creates a serious issue because players grow serious relationships with each other and often create a family or brotherhood with each other. In an interview with Caron one player describes his isolation after a concussion “You’re on your own little island . . . . You’re not really around the guys because the team doesn’t want you around the guys. They don’t want injured guys around. They don’t want that epidemic around and you’re cast aside” (172). This feeling of isolation is a huge issue for the NHL because according to numerous other players they claim that that feeling severely impacted their career after returning. The short-term effects of concussions are very serious, however players who suffer numerous concussions are at risk to suffer them for the rest of their lives.

Players who suffer from numerous concussions are at a huge risk to suffer from post concussion syndrome. Post concussion syndrome is the long-term effect of concussions and its side effects. The mental effects have a huge affect on the players socially. Former NHL players have often discussed their issues with post concussion syndrome and how it affects their lives. In an interview with Jeffery Caron, one former player described himself after retiring: “Anxiety. Absolutely. That year was the worst I’ve ever felt. I really believe that stress was a contributing factor too. Use the comparison of having your foot on a gas pedal and everything is going too fast. Everything was going too fast for me” (172). Players often experience a heavy level of stress, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and depression after concussions. This can lead to an unhealthy living style and often leads to off ice issues. Between the stress, anxiety, and depression it may lead players to become suicidal. As one player describes to Caron; 

“I was going on websites but my wife didn’t know. When she finally found out, she was very scared. I was at the point where I’d be driving along and would think about going full speed and hitting the wall. Just end it. The pain was unbelievable. I had headaches every day for a minimum of three and a half years. Not just a little headache where you want to take an aspirin. I almost wanted to scream. If I had a day off from my headaches it was like I won Super 7. I was ecstatic, I could see, I could think. So many times I just wanted to end it” (173). 

The NHL needs to be concerned about concussions. Too often players are seen as “replaceable” that can be swapped out for someone else. However to the families of the players there is no replacement. Concussions are a serious injury and can lead to not only mental issues, but also a big financial loss for players. 

Players who retire due to concussions are missing out on a huge financial opportunity. Carmen Hiploylee conducted a study where she found thirty-five NHL players who retired between 1995 and 2015 from concussions. Hiploylee’s results showed that “The total financial cost for the 35 players’ career-ending concussions from 1995 to 2015 was US$135,476,777” (Results). This number is not including various bonuses that players are able to get which can boost their salaries drastically. This is an incredible financial loss especially considering the lasting medical issues that concussions can cause. Even Hiploylee describes her research as a low estimate; “it does include the costs of disability insurance or the costs of injury treatment and management” (Discussion). Many of the players suffer from migraines and depression that can need medication and sometimes therapy. These issues also can strain family relationships. In a study that Jeffery Caron conducted, a former NHL player said:  “It was very tough for the first couple of years and especially through the depression. That was challenging but I think my family went through it worse than I did. I was full blown, let’s say, dementia. So I wasn’t really suffering anymore but everybody watching around me was suffering... They were really worried”(Caron 173).  These strained relationships can also cause a large financial deficit; one player in the study claims that concussions had a big part in his wife divorcing him. Players need to be better protected from concussions to prevent these financial and emotional traumas. The NHL is much more concerned about their  financial profits, rather than the health issues concussions cause to their players. 

With various all-star players like Sydney Crosby, Marc Savard, and Chris Pronger suffering severe, and in Marc’s case, career-ending concussions the NHL needs to consider the seriousness of concussions. Players are continuously at risk to suffer from the traumatic brain injury that has the power to change their personality forever. The NHL needs to accept that concussions are a serious injury and find a way to protect its own players. The negligence of the NHL puts its players at serious risk to suffer from short and long-term consequences. These consequences have the ability to change their personality for the rest of their life and can cause serious health issues. On top of suffering health issues, players miss out on huge financial opportunities due to missed contracts and bonuses. In only one season NHL physicians reported a ridiculous 559 concussions. This research does not include concussions players have played through or were misdiagnosed. Concussions in hockey are inevitable, considering the speed, strength, and physicality that players play with, concussions will happen. However, the league can reduce the amount suffered by players. The NHL needs to consider the severity of concussions and they need to concede that they are a huge issue in the league. The players risk their health and safety while playing, the NHL must revise the rules and fines regarding dangerous hits that cause concussions in order to reduce the amount taken by players. 
