Former NHLer Alleges Collusion With NHL Team In New Book

A page in former NHLer Jordin Tootoo's new book 'Mind Over Matter' has been a topic of discussion over what appears to be Tootoo revealing he asked the Chicago Blackhawks to place him on LTIR to avoid an AHL demotion, which then-GM Stan Bowman obliged.

Tootoo, who was re-signed by Chicago in 2017, was placed on LTIR with an upper-body injury, later retiring in October 2018. Tootoo alleges to have asked Bowman to place him on LTIR so he can stay in Chicago with his pregnant wife.

At the time, Tootoo said he was dealing with a shoulder injury, but the extent of the injury isn't known besides being described as "lingering". Tootoo, who went to AHL Rockford while Bowman sorted out the LTIR plan, later was cleared for missing time.

If Tootoo and Bowman broke any league rules isn't clear, but in recent years, criticism has come over certain teams and LTIR usage, with some fans accusing teams of potential manipulation to circumvent the cap. Tootoo, who was just making $700k, was likely not meant to manipulate Chicago's cap room.

Tootoo, a cult star in the NHL thanks to his physical "goon" abilities and his Aboriginal heritage, a part Inuk from his dad's side, made him an idol to Indigenous communities with not just his play on the ice, but his outspoken advocacy off the ice, and his brutal honesty on the game from the perspective of a player, as well as promoting Hockey in his native Nunavut.