Nine former NHL players filed major class action lawsuits against the National Hockey League in a U.S. District Court on Thursday, alleging that the league has generated billions of dollars while subjecting its players to the imminent risk of head trauma leading to devastating and long-term negative health consequences. The players in the suit - Dan LaCouture, Dan Keczmer, Jack Carlson, Richard Brennan, Brad Maxwell, Mike Peluso, Tom Younghans, Allan Rourke and Scott Bailey - are represented by Robbins Geller, the firm that won over $7 billion for victims of the 2001 Enron fraud. "As opposed to other elite-level ice hockey organizations, like the European ice hockey leagues and the Olympics, the NHL fostered and promoted an extremely physical game of ice hockey," read the complaint. "Through enclosed rink designs and lax rules for fighting, the NHL vectored a culture of extreme violence and packaged the spoils to adoring fans. "The NHL has failed and continues to fail to warn its players of these risks and consequences of head trauma, concealing material scientific and anecdotal information from its players. The NHL has failed to institute policies and protocols that could have and will protect its players from suffering or exacerbating head trauma sustained during practice or in games. "Specifically, despite the fact that the NHLs violent game design induces head trauma, including concussions, the NHL has failed and continues to fail to warn its players of the risks to their lives and the devastating and long-term negative health effects. In fact, the NHL affirmatively concealed specific anecdotal evidence from players and scientific evidence about the health risks and consequences associated with playing in the NHL, including head injuries. To maintain its billions in revenue, the NHL also purposefully failed to institute policies and protocols that would protect its players from exacerbating injuries sustained during practice or in games." The NHL will release a statement on Thursday afternoon addressing the lawsuits. More to follow. Air Max 95 Pas Cher Chine . Rookie Christian Vazquez got his first three major league hits and drove in three runs, while David Ortiz had three RBIs to break open the game in the sixth inning and lead Boston over the Houston Astros 8-3. Air Max 90 Essential Pas Cher . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not. http://www.maxnikepascher.fr/destockage-...ax-720-obj.html. New York secured second place in the Metropolitan Division when the Philadelphia Flyers lost at Tampa Bay later Thursday. The Rangers will face either the Flyers or Columbus in the opening round of the post-season. The Rangers struggled throughout against the lowly Sabres and goalie Matt Hackett, who played in just his seventh NHL game of the season. Air Max 2020 Pas Cher . Luis Enrique signed the deal with club president Josep Bartomeu two days after it was announced by the club. That was two days after coach Gerardo Martino stepped down when Barcelona finished its first season without a major trophy in six years. Vapormax Femme Pas Cher .Y. -- Dwane Casey admitted hed been concerned about his young Raptors team who had zero experience playing in close-out games -- what awaited them with the vastly-experienced Brooklyn Nets, and how theyd react.One of the NHLs longest-serving team executives could be stepping down at seasons end, as the Raleigh News-Observer reports that Jim Rutherford is expected to give up his duties as general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes. Rutherford, who serves as president and general manager of the Hurricanes, told the paper on Monday that he didnt want to comment on his status with the team or any potential changes until the season is over. TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger adds that Ruutherford will meet with Peter Karmanos at the end of the season before any final decision is made.dddddddddddd. Sources tell the News-Observer that Rutherford could remain as team president, while Hall of Famer and Hurricanes vice president of hockey operations Ron Francis could succeed Rutherford as general manager. Rutherford has been with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes franchise since 1994 and led the team to its first Stanley Cup in 2006. ' ' '