Lawyers for the group of former NHLers suing the league over its handling of concussions have "questioned seven current and former league officials over the past month and are scheduled to depose" NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan "before month's end," according to Rick Westhead of TSN.ca. More than 70 former NHLers, including Bernie Nicholls, Joe Murphy and Gary Leeman, "allege the league has promoted and profited from violence while hiding the long-term effects of repeated head injuries." A source said that Islanders team doctor Elliot Pellman was "questioned under oath on June 5." Westhead noted it is "possible that lawyers for the former players will ask that more current and former NHL officials be required to testify, subject to a judge's permission." The NHL will also "have a chance to conduct depositions of its own, and would probably call some of the former players to answer questions under oath." The plaintiffs have called the NHL's years-long investigation into concussions a "whitewash." The NHL has "claimed in pleadings that former players ought to have been able to 'put two and two together' about the long-term impact of brain injuries thanks to newspaper and magazine stories and other news reports." The league "tried unsuccessfully to have the lawsuit dismissed" (TSN.ca, 7/10).
