CHICAGO — The family of the late Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Steve Montador has sued the N.H.L., saying the league did not take the necessary steps to keep him reasonably safe during his career and failed to provide him with crucial medical information on the ramifications of brain trauma.
Montador, who played for six N.H.L. teams, died in February at age 35 of an undisclosed cause at his Canada home. Dr. Charles Tator said in May that an autopsy showed widespread chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E., which has been linked to repeated brain trauma.
The suit accuses the N.