Report: ​Dryden calls upon Bettman to do more!​

National Hockey League Hall of Famer Ken Dryden is calling upon NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to do more to reduce concussion injuries. The legendary goaltender is hoping to make the game safer for the players. 

Dryden, who examines the issue in detail in his new book “Game Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador and the Future of Hockey", told MACLEAN'S that the solution is quite easy: there should be no excuses. Let's stop talking about it and do something about it. 

"Gary is completely capable and has the ability, the status and authority to do what needs to be done," Dryden told MACLEAN'S. "The basic problem all the way along with hockey and other sports dealing with head injuries is: what the heck do we do about them? I think what we need is to start at the essence: hits to head are a bad thing. Hard hits to the head and many hits to the head are very bad things. This is about no hits to the heads, no excuses—and you start there."

It is well-known that the NHL has been slow to recognize the seriousness of concussion-related injuries, especially with regards to life-altering brain trauma such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Dryden used Montador as a lead example to many other players who are affected by this. Montador had a long history with concussions in the NHL, and after he passed away in 2015, the Montador family donated his brain to science, where it was revealed the 35-year-old suffered from CTE.

"We’ve talked about it and we’ll see what happens. The idea of doing this book is when it’s done, it’s not done. No. To me, when the book is published, that’s the beginning."

Dryden is hoping the NHL will continue to address concussion injuries but knows more work is still required to make the game safer. 

Step up and do your job, Gary!