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Sidney Crosby on NHL concussion policy: ‘You’re not going to be able to protect everyone’
Sidney Crosby sat down with CBC's Peter Mansbridge for an interview that airs in its entirety this weekend.
Alas, it was conducted before the NFL settled its massive concussion lawsuit with former players. Say what you will about Crosby’s head injury, but he’s still at the forefront of the concussion debate in the NHL and it would have been fascinating to hear his thoughts.
But Mansbridge did ask Crosby about the NHL concussion policy and its legacy, in the context of a Ken Dryden quote that compared the NHL’s lack of action in head injuries until recently to Big Tobacco ignoring smoking’s hazards.
Said Crosby:
“I think hockey is a very traditional sport, and I’m probably the biggest supporter of that. I think the roots of the game are what make it so special. But I think that we have to adapt, and adjust and there’s nothing wrong with changing things. It doesn’t mean we’re forgetting what the game is about.
“It’s still an amazing game. It’s still fast. It’s still physical. You’re talking about taking out a very small number of hits and probably allowing a number of players longer careers because of it.
“You’re not going to be able to protect everyone. The game’s physical. That’s what we signed up for this. We played since we were young. We all understand the risks that come with it.”
Sid’s been pretty consistent with the “take some hits out, it won’t ruin the game” chatter. It’s the right message as the face of the NHL, at least for now. One hopes he’d step up and lead the charge if the NHL gets lax on its concussion policy.
Watch the 15-minute teaser for the interview here on Yahoo Sports.
