Pronger, Crosby, Skinner, Giroux, does it all seem a little strange?

"There is no respect in the league for other players" is about where I stopped reading.

I think you're wrong. Crosby's original hit was more of an accidental collision than a dirty hit. Then he ran into Letang which was obviously unintentional. Giroux's collision was with a teammate so that was an accident. Pronger's concusion is reportedly from that high stick which was more of a freak accident. You also need to really take into account the fact that there is a TON more known about concussions now than 30 years ago, let alone even 5 years ago. There is many more precautions being taken. Michalek's concussion involved a teammate. You look at Michael Sauer on the Rangers who was hit by Phaneuf, his helmet fell off on a clean hit and he was concussed. More and more of these are coming through accidental collisions and equipment not properly worn. I can tell you from experience of playing this game...If all players properly wore mouthguards, these concussions would be cut in half. The only time I EVER suffered a concussion playing the game was when I was hit not wearing my mouth guard properly. There is still far more that could be done to prevent them, but the reason for more happening is NOT because players are losing respect for each other....There is headhunters like Evgeni Malkin, Matt Cooke..etc...but for the most part it isn't like that.

Von - Funny you say that because Malkin threw a flying elbow at Simmonds last year.

Pronger, Crosby, Skinner, Giroux, add Michalek to the list. All have come by their concussions in a different method. Hockey is a high speed high impact sport. There are injuries that develop. Unfortunately if you want the speed, contact and action there are going to be some consequences.

Bring back the centre red line, increase the size of the ice surface, bring back interference and clutch and grab. Slow down the game. I guarantee you concussions will decrease. Will you still watch the game? In the mid '90's the game was slow, there were fewer concussions but the trap was supreme. The 1996 Stanley Cup Final was probably the dullest playoff series ever played. Two trap teams, only one of which knew how to score. 4-0 series win. Boooring.

The teams are now taking care of their players. They are not being rushed back if there is any chance of recurring injury. That is an improvement. BTW three of the top scorers from that year retired early because of concussions. So it isn't a new phenomenon.

Concussions have always been in Hockey, however know they are more well known, doctors are trained better and they are treated more severly. Before the turn of the century players would play through concussions, since there hockey players they can. But we are now seeing the effects of this, as many former players are experiencing health problems relating to the brain. Truth be told, Crosby as an example can play through his concussion at this point, but for the better of the rest of his career and his life outside hockey, they are keeping him away from the game. BTW respect is at its best right now, as you should see some film of hockey in the 70s.

It's because everyone is overly-sensitive about concussions these days. In the past they would just go un-diagnosed and life continues. Plus people are so obsessive about it that every time it happens we notice it more, whereas in the past it would just be, "Oh, he's hurt, that sucks." Now it's, "OMG! He's got a headache!! Quick, change all the rules to accommodate the hurt feelings of sports writers!

Hockey people here aren't nerds...

@The Hockey Guy: Are Geno and Cooke headhunters? Or it's only because you are a Philly fan?? Then I could say Wayne Simmons is a dirty player...

Two of those examples were caused by incidental contact with their own teammate... Thats how crosby re-injured himself. So if your saying that peoples own teammates are conspiring against them than you need to rethink your theory there.

I stopped reading at "hockey nerds".

hockey nerds are the best kind of nerds

Your exactly right, it's a NHL conspiracy...

LOL jk your wrong