AHL President/CEO David Andrews to Retire?

[vandymeer13]

I agree with Sports good riddance to this guy. I don't mind the teams playing each other over and over again because I like the idea of more rivalries and it doesn't make sense when they aren't televised out of market to have every team play each other it's just more expensive.
However with his change to the fight rule he's helped kill minor league hockey and depleted fan entertainment. You want rivalries but place a idiotic 10 fight max rule.
A couple years ago I would have said the ahl game was more exciting the nhl with the mixture of skill and toughness. Now it sucks just like the nhl, but at least the nhl lets grown men decide how many times they want to fight. The EIHL and Echl are the last two leagues playing tough north American hockey, sad that one of them is in the uk. Bring back tough hockey.

 

[royals119]

I agree with Sports good riddance to this guy. I don't mind the teams playing each other over and over again because I like the idea of more rivalries and it doesn't make sense when they aren't televised out of market to have every team play each other it's just more expensive.
However with his change to the fight rule he's helped kill minor league hockey and depleted fan entertainment. You want rivalries but place a idiotic 10 fight max rule.
A couple years ago I would have said the ahl game was more exciting the nhl with the mixture of skill and toughness. Now it sucks just like the nhl, but at least the nhl lets grown men decide how many times they want to fight. The EIHL and Echl are the last two leagues playing tough north American hockey, sad that one of them is in the uk. Bring back tough hockey.

With all the awareness and lawsuits around concussions and brain injury you aren't going to see a return to fighting. Once players (and deceased or disabled players' families) started filing lawsuits against sports leagues for the damage caused by head trauma they had to act. If a player can say in court that he was directed/encouraged/expected to fight, and the league doesn't have real policies and deterrents in place to prevent it, the players are going to continue to win those suits. With these new rules the leagues can defend themselves by saying they made changes, and they "told" players not to fight, not to remove their helmets, not to check to the head, etc, and they players are at fault because they didn't follow the workplace rules that the employer put in place. Just like a construction worker who was injured while not wearing his required safety gear, or not following established procedures. The league had to act to show the courts they are actively working to change the culture of hockey and establishing safeguards to protect players.

 

[UticaHockey]

With all the awareness and lawsuits around concussions and brain injury you aren't going to see a return to fighting. Once players (and deceased or disabled players' families) started filing lawsuits against sports leagues for the damage caused by head trauma they had to act. If a player can say in court that he was directed/encouraged/expected to fight, and the league doesn't have real policies and deterrents in place to prevent it, the players are going to continue to win those suits. With these new rules the leagues can defend themselves by saying they made changes, and they "told" players not to fight, not to remove their helmets, not to check to the head, etc, and they players are at fault because they didn't follow the workplace rules that the employer put in place. Just like a construction worker who was injured while not wearing his required safety gear, or not following established procedures. The league had to act to show the courts they are actively working to change the culture of hockey and establishing safeguards to protect players.

You nailed it. Too many hockey fans that are upset with the changes that try to reduce fighting blame the wrong people for the new rules. The changes are a reaction to the potential lawsuits and huge monetary awards. Don't blame David Andrews or Gary Bettman. Blame lawyers.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

Don't blame David Andrews or Gary Bettman. Blame lawyers.

Right. Blame lawyers who hold power and money accountable for their decisions and actions, who stick up for the working class who get injured at work because management is trying to cheap out on safety equipment and who have fought for people to be treated fair and equitably by employers.

 

[vandymeer13]

With all the awareness and lawsuits around concussions and brain injury you aren't going to see a return to fighting. Once players (and deceased or disabled players' families) started filing lawsuits against sports leagues for the damage caused by head trauma they had to act. If a player can say in court that he was directed/encouraged/expected to fight, and the league doesn't have real policies and deterrents in place to prevent it, the players are going to continue to win those suits. With these new rules the leagues can defend themselves by saying they made changes, and they "told" players not to fight, not to remove their helmets, not to check to the head, etc, and they players are at fault because they didn't follow the workplace rules that the employer put in place. Just like a construction worker who was injured while not wearing his required safety gear, or not following established procedures. The league had to act to show the courts they are actively working to change the culture of hockey and establishing safeguards to protect players.

I remember when the lawsuits started that they said the nhl's and hockey's reputation as a tough physical sport should help them when it comes to lawsuits. Are people going to sue boxing and mma next? Where players are suing the nhl is because they believe the nhl knew more about the impact of concussions layer in life then they led on. Like the nfl they will lose the case but the players won't see much of that money. Why can't the nhl go back to the way hockey was played? Everyone is aware of the risks and fighting accounts for just 9 percent of concussions.
And worse some players who have followed lawsuit are shown to be liars. Notably Mike Peluso dan lacoture and Darren lagdon. For every player who claims cte or brain damage there are others who have few if any symptoms and are enjoying retirement. Stu grimson Craig berube Paul Laus and many others.

 

[GarbageGoal]

Anyone watching Berube coach might disagree he's fine.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

I remember when the lawsuits started that they said the nhl's and hockey's reputation as a tough physical sport should help them when it comes to lawsuits. Are people going to sue boxing and mma next? Where players are suing the nhl is because they believe the nhl knew more about the impact of concussions layer in life then they led on. Like the nfl they will lose the case but the players won't see much of that money. Why can't the nhl go back to the way hockey was played? Everyone is aware of the risks and fighting accounts for just 9 percent of concussions.
And worse some players who have followed lawsuit are shown to be liars. Notably Mike Peluso dan lacoture and Darren lagdon. For every player who claims cte or brain damage there are others who have few if any symptoms and are enjoying retirement. Stu grimson Craig berube Paul Laus and many others.

Addressing each bolded point:

1. "they said." Who said? Cite a source here. If the NHL knew or should have known that essentially allowing players to have minute-long boxing matches during hockey games would lead to concussions and brain damage in players, yet allowed it to continue, that's a legal problem for the league. Reputation as a physical sport isn't a defense here.

2. "The players won't see much of that money." In class action lawsuits, lawyer fees are settled by the courts to assure that the class members (in this case, players) get their just relief for the harms they suffered.

3. "Everyone is aware of the risks." Cite a source here. Even signing a release that says "I am aware of the risks" doesn't mean you are "aware of the risks," it means you've signed away your right to sue.

4. "And worse some players who have followed lawsuit are shown to be liars." You know, the funny thing about brain damage and psychological symptoms is that it's very difficult to know what another person is thinking, feeling or experiencing.

5. "For every player who claims cte or brain damage there are others who have few if any symptoms and are enjoying retirement. Stu grimson Craig berube Paul Laus and many others." You do know that CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem, right? And that symptoms present at different ages in different patients? And that those players may have no symptoms now and may in 10 years?

The funny thing is that you have a photo of Derek Boogaard in your profile. He died at 27 and was found to have brain damage from playing "tough hockey," and yet you don't seem to understand why.

 

[GindyDraws]

I agree.

Get rid of the guy. He ruined the AHL with the Pacific Division.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I agree.

Get rid of the guy. He ruined the AHL with the Pacific Division.

actually, the blame lies on the Calgary Flames, JD, it was their President of Hockey Ops, who suggested the Pacific Division, not Andrews, that is why Anaheim, Calgary, Arizona did what they did.

 

[vandymeer13]

Addressing each bolded point:

1. "they said." Who said? Cite a source here. If the NHL knew or should have known that essentially allowing players to have minute-long boxing matches during hockey games would lead to concussions and brain damage in players, yet allowed it to continue, that's a legal problem for the league. Reputation as a physical sport isn't a defense here.

2. "The players won't see much of that money." In class action lawsuits, lawyer fees are settled by the courts to assure that the class members (in this case, players) get their just relief for the harms they suffered.

3. "Everyone is aware of the risks." Cite a source here. Even signing a release that says "I am aware of the risks" doesn't mean you are "aware of the risks," it means you've signed away your right to sue.

4. "And worse some players who have followed lawsuit are shown to be liars." You know, the funny thing about brain damage and psychological symptoms is that it's very difficult to know what another person is thinking, feeling or experiencing.

5. "For every player who claims cte or brain damage there are others who have few if any symptoms and are enjoying retirement. Stu grimson Craig berube Paul Laus and many others." You do know that CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem, right? And that symptoms present at different ages in different patients? And that those players may have no symptoms now and may in 10 years?

The funny thing is that you have a photo of Derek Boogaard in your profile. He died at 27 and was found to have brain damage from playing "tough hockey," and yet you don't seem to understand why.

1.The they I am talking about was a law specialist that was on espn after news broke of the lawsuit. If I remembered his name I would have put it down sorry.
2. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...l-is-waiting-for-us-to-die-amid-health-issues In example of what I mean when I said that.
3. In todays day and age if you are a player and can't simply google the risk involved in playing a contact sport like hockey and it's long term effects, maybe you shouldn't be playing.
4. I know this but points Im making Dan Lacoture has run marathons and played in charity games but talks about how he can't do anything. Mike Peluso is a complete trainwreck and discredits himself in every interview. Darron Langdon as of last year still plays in a adult league and has engaged in fights.
5. I do know that and my point is you can't look at everyone who has ever played the role of enforcer as having cte. Todd Ewen is a good example as someone who was incensed while alive that he had cte and after he committed suicide he was found not to show any signs. Cte has the same symptoms of depression and anxiety.
And also I have a picture of Derek Boogard because I respect him and use it as a tribute. Boogard had a lot of demons and was addicted to pain killers and liked using them will alcohol which is a bad combination. What players need to do is to share when they are having chronic problems relating to cte and not be afraid to get help and take time off to let there brains heal. And unlike football there contracts are guaranteed. I'm tired of arguing about this we have different views. But I just wanted to give you my rebuttle.

 

[GarbageGoal]

The last part about guaranteed contracts and players taking time off is so simplistic a view of a pro hockey player's life, I wouldn't even know where to start....

Everyone really needs to just step back and weigh their enjoyment of a spectator sport being "ruined" because "they don't let 'em do it like they used to" versus what these guy's lives will be like twenty to thirty years from now when their wives are feeding them by hand and you're paying money to watch someone elses kid possibly get messed up. If you can do that and still be fine with it, more power to you.

 

[210]

I agree.

Get rid of the guy. He ruined the AHL with the Pacific Division.

You say that like he actually had a choice.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

The last part about guaranteed contracts and players taking time off is so simplistic a view of a pro hockey player's life, I wouldn't even know where to start....

Everyone really needs to just step back and weigh their enjoyment of a spectator sport being "ruined" because "they don't let 'em do it like they used to" versus what these guy's lives will be like twenty to thirty years from now when their wives are feeding them by hand and you're paying money to watch someone elses kid possibly get messed up. If you can do that and still be fine with it, more power to you.

Bingo.