NHL concussion spotters to have new powers for 2016-17 - Sportsnet.ca

NHL concussion spotters to have new powers for 2016-17 - Sportsnet.ca

Elliotte Friedman Elliotte Friedman As the National Football League takes heat for how Cam Newton's medical situation was handled during its opening game of the season Thursday night, news is leaking about changes to the National Hockey League's own concussion protocol. For the 2016-17 season, four independent trainers (called "Central Spotters") will be monitoring all NHL games via television.

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Possibly big news in the ongoing concussion battle.

For the 2016-17 season, four independent trainers (called “Central Spotters”) will be monitoring all NHL games via television. If they see “visible signs” of a concussion, they will send word to the team that their affected player must be removed from the game.

Alex Prewitt has a partial transcript of the Dennis Wideman hearing, which shed some light on why it might have motivated the NHL to make some changes. (FINALLY.)

It'll be interesting to see how this goes - how liberally the phrase "visible signs" is interpreted by spotters, how much coaches will fight losing their players for the game.