Gary Bettman ordered to testify in concussion lawsuit

The National Hockey League commissioner is being called upon to take the stand in a court of law.

Gary Bettman has been ordered by a U.S. federal court judge to offer testimony in a concussion lawsuit filed by 60 former players, according to Rick Westhead of TSN.

In the ruling delivered by Judge Susan Nelson, Bettman is said to possess "unique or special knowledge relevant to this lawsuit." Included in the ruling are excerpts of several interviews Bettman gave between 1993 and 2015 that show his insights into how the league has responded to head injuries.

A group of 60 former NHL players, which includes Joe Murphy, Bernie Nicholls and Gary Leeman, argue the NHL did not do enough to protect its players from head injuries before creating a committee to study trauma in 1997. It's also alleged the committee's findings weren't properly disclosed to the players.

Bettman is expected to be deposed in July, and no earlier, as per the judge's orders.