The Fifth Liners

When the NFL settled its concussion case for $765 million in august, it was only a matter of time until the NHL's lawyers would be facing the same suit.  Concussion is a very real part of hockey with heads hitting ice, boards and fists in pretty much every game. NHL poster boy Sidney Crosby has missed a lot of games through concussion related injury. Chris Pronger hasn't played a game of hockey since 2011 for the same reason. What started as a 10 man lawsuit now has over 200 names and is expected to get bigger, although whether or not it reaches the almost 5000 names that the NFL suit did remains to be seen. The original 10 players were enforcers in the 70s, 80s and 90s, a role that by design is going to attract the most punches. Former Avalanche enforcer Scott Parker recently told the Denver Post about his daily struggles due to concussion issues. Although he says that he knew the risks and isn't part of the suit. A number of allegations have been made, the g...

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has approved the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes in a move that could see the team move away from Glendale. The Coyotes were created in 1996 when the former Winnipeg Jets franchise was sold and the team was moved. The Franchise has been owned by the NHL since 2009 when the original owner declared the team was bankrupt. Ever since then it's been leaking money. At the time there was talk of the team moving to Ontario but the sale fell through when the City of Glendale and the NHL fought the sale in court. Although the sale was eventually approved, the NHL bought the franchise itself to ensure that hockey would remain in the desert. It looks like that's no longer going to happen. Although the NHL wants the team to stay put; the above mentioned court case ruled that the NHL cannot force a team to stay in a certain location. Despite the City pumping money into the team and recent good form, the dwindling attendances and escalating costs mean that we...

By Alex Watson Sport in North American can change in the bat of an eye lid and a team can be in one city one day and be far down the road in the next. NHL has seens it fair share of chopping and changing over its history which spans almost 100 years and people are currently debating if the league will yet again be expanded and with the well documented financial strains of the Phoenix Coyote's, it appears one franchise could be on the move! But who are the main players in contention to have their city join Gary Bettman's Ice Hockey's elite club?? Here are the main possible cities. Canada Hamilton, Ontario: This city is desperate to rejoin the NHL afters it brief appearance in the 1920s and Blackberry creator Jim Balsille has been making a number of efforts to bring hockey to Hamilton. In 2008 he reached an agreement to buy Nashville Predators, only to have his agreement terminated a month later! Later he would attempt to buy Phoenix Coyotes only to have...

Good evening hockey fans! The news we've all been waiting for is here, the Winter Classic is back, after its forced holiday due to the lockout, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has announced the game will be played on new year's day, 2014 with the Toronto Maple Leafs playing the mighty Detroit Red Wings. The major change will be that in 2014, Toronto and Detroit will be division, as well as historic rivals as the new realignment will have to come into effect. The annual celebration of all things hockey will descend, along with an expected 110,000 fans onto the University of Michigan's Big House. There's also plans for 2 alumni games to be played on December 31st. Today's other Winter Classic announcement is that both teams will be wearing retro jerseys. Please Santa, bring me this Wings jersey. Both jerseys pay homage to those sported in the 1930s although the Wings jersey also contains some 1980s nods with the numbering and lettering. Go Wings.