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Homeless ex-Red Wing Joe Murphy reminds us NHL must cut down violence

Hockey has a concussion problem. It just doesn’t want to admit it. At least NHL commissioner Gary Bettman won’t.

Which is sad, because he oversees a unique and exhilarating game that could — and should — do more to protect its players.

I was reminded of that this past week when news broke that former Detroit Red Wings No. 1 pick Joe Murphy is homeless.

Murphy was part of a class-action lawsuit that more than 100 former NHLers filed against the league in 2014, accusing it of squashing the truth about the long-term effects of concussions.