The NHL continues to downplay the link between repeated blows to the head and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
"No," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Wednesday when asked if the league has changed its views in light of medical studies showing a correlation, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli. "I think the science is still lacking."
Daly's comments come following the death of former NHL enforcer Chris Simon on Tuesday. Simon, who was just 52, accrued 1,824 penalty minutes over his 782-game career. His family confirmed he died by suicide.
"The family strongly believes and witnessed firsthand that Chris struggled immensely from CTE which unfortunately resulted in his death," Simon's former agent, Paul Theofanous, said in a statement on behalf of the family, per ESPN.
Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed Simon's death Wednesday.
"Chris' passing is tragic, it's sad. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends. And, you know, on all of these matters, we wait to see what the medical experts tell us," Bettman said. "Having said that, I think it's well documented with all of the progress that we've made over the last couple decades to make the game as safe as possible."
