( CNN ) -- It 's the issue within U.S. sport which simply refuses go away -- concussion and the potential danger it poses to professional athletes playing contact sports . Earlier this year the National Football League ( NFL ) reached a settlement with thousands of former football players to pay $ 765 million to fund medical exams , concussion-related compensation , medical research for the retired players and their families , and litigation expenses . Now the National Hockey League is facing a class-action lawsuit brought by 10 former NHL players . The lawsuit says the league has n't done enough to protect players from concussions in a sport where physical contact is common and often spills over into heated argument . The players ' legal action drew a swift response from the NHL . `` While the subject matter is very serious , we are completely satisfied with the responsible manner in which the League and the Players ' Association have managed player safety over time , including with respect to head injuries and concussions , '' said the NHL statement . `` We intend to defend the case vigorously and have no further comment at this time . '' Former NHL All-Star Gary Leema is one of the 10 players to have taken the action against the league and its board of governors . Opinion : NFL settlement raises questions . `` Unbeknownst to plaintiffs , scientific evidence has linked brain injuries to long-term neurological problems for decades , '' read the lawsuit , filed in a Washington D.C. court . `` While every blow to the head is dangerous , plaintiffs did not know , and were not told by the NHL , how dangerous this repeated brain trauma is . `` The NHL has known or should have known of this growing body of scientific evidence and its compelling conclusion that hockey players who sustain repetitive concussive events , sub-concussive events and/or brain injuries are at significantly greater risk of neuro-cognitive illness and disabilities both during their hockey careers and later in life . '' The players claim a series of updates to the rules made in 2004 , while creating a more exciting , marketable game , increased the number of violent in-game collisions . `` Hopefully this lawsuit will shine a light on the problem and the players can get the help they deserve , '' Rick Vaive , a former Toronto Maple Leafs player and one of 10 players who have launched the lawsuit , said in a statement . The lawsuit also accuses the NHL of waiting until 2010 to prohibit targeting a player 's head during a challenge , while also failing to outlaw body-checking . `` We have , on our own , a long history , going back to 1997 , of taking concussions very seriously , '' NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said earlier this year . `` We spend a lot of time , money and effort working with the players ' association on player safety . '' The NFL agreement , which involves more than 4,500 plaintiffs , still needs to be approved by the judge assigned to the case . Meanwhile it was announced Tuesday that Rogers Communications has paid a record-breaking $ 5.2 billion for the rights to broadcast the NHL in Canada . The deal , which also includes multimedia rights , will last 12 years and is the largest in NHL history . Head impact sensors : On-the-field placebo or danger ?
10 former players launch a class-action lawsuit against National Hockey League . The suit alleges that the league and its teams have been "systematically failing" to protect concussions in recent years. Former NHL All-Star Gary Leema is one of the 10 players taking the action . NHL says it will `` defend the case vigorously '' and that it takes player safety `` very seriously ''