Nine former NHL players filed major class action lawsuits against the National Hockey League in a U.S. District Court on Thursday, alleging that the league has generated billions of dollars while subjecting its players to 'the imminent risk of head trauma' leading to 'devastating and long-term negative health consequences.'

The players in the suit - Dan LaCouture, Dan Keczmer, Jack Carlson, Richard Brennan, Brad Maxwell, Mike Peluso, Tom Younghans, Allan Rourke and Scott Bailey - are represented by Robbins Geller, the firm that won over $7 billion for victims of the 2001 Enron fraud.

"As opposed to other elite-level ice hockey organizations, like the European ice hockey leagues and the Olympics, the NHL fostered and promoted an extremely physical game of ice hockey," read the complaint.

"Through enclosed rink designs and lax rules for fighting, the NHL vectored a culture of extreme violence and packaged the spoils to adoring fans.

"The NHL has failed and continues to fail to warn its players of these risks and consequences of head trauma, concealing material scientific and anecdotal information from its players. The NHL has failed to institute policies and protocols that could have and will protect its players from suffering or exacerbating head trauma sustained during practice or in games.

"Specifically, despite the fact that the NHL's violent game design induces head trauma, including concussions, the NHL has failed and continues to fail to warn its players of the risks to their lives and the devastating and long-term negative health effects. In fact, the NHL affirmatively concealed specific anecdotal evidence from players and scientific evidence about the health risks and consequences associated with playing in the NHL, including head injuries. To maintain its billions in revenue, the NHL also purposefully failed to institute policies and protocols that would protect its players from exacerbating injuries sustained during practice or in games."

The NHL will release a statement on Thursday afternoon addressing the lawsuits.

And hockey legend Scotty Bowman had not yet even become the head coach of the Red Wings. He would lead them to their first Stanley Cup victory in 42 years in 1997.

EDMONTON -- Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Smyth says he will retire at the end of the season.

The NHL veteran, who was also a stalwart on Team Canada, was drafted sixth overall by Edmonton in 1994 and spent most of his 18-season career in Alberta's capital.

He mixed grit with a scoring touch and became the face of the post-Wayne Gretzky Oilers, leading the team to a Stanley Cup final appearance in 2006.

Smyth, 38, made the announcement at a news conference with Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish. Smyth thanked everyone from former teammates to the Oilers' massage therapist in a speech that saw the scrappy forward fighting back tears.

"There comes a time in my life where you have to turn the page, and today I'm doing that," Smyth said. "As hard as it is to say goodbye to the game of hockey, I'm blessed that God has given me the ability and the passion (for) this great game and to have had the opportunity to play for as long as I have."

He has 386 goals and 456 assists and 974 penalty minutes in 1,269 games heading into Edmonton's season finale against the visiting Vancouver Canucks. He added 59 points (28-31) and 88 penalty minutes in 93 career playoff games.

He also earned the nickname "Captain Canada" for his loyalty to Canada's men's national team.

"There are many players that have worn the Edmonton Oilers jersey, but there are no players who wore the jersey that had more passion than Ryan Smyth," MacTavish said.

Saturday's game against the Canucks will be the last in the storied career for the winger from Banff, Alta.

Teammates said he will be remembered as a blue-collar workhorse who made his living with a big stick in front of the net, deflecting and tipping in point shots and passes while taking a hellacious beating.

Oilers winger David Perron said he grew up idolizing Smyth.

"He was always around the net being greasy and scoring goals that everyone was like, 'How did that go in? Oh, Ryan Smyth scored again.' At the end of the year he'd have 30-40 goals," said Perron after practice Friday.

Oiler goaltender Ben Scrivens said Smyth's trademark goals come from a mix of skill and courage.

"He's always in position but never stops the puck, and it makes it really difficult to see pucks because no matter which way you look it seems like he's there," said Scrivens.

"It's a talent he acquired through hard work and just sacrificing his body.

"Many people knock goalies for standing in front of slapshots, but at least we have the gear to protect ourselves."

Smyth played at least 40 games as an Oiler in 14 of his 18 seasons. He blossomed in his first full season with the team in 1996-97, when he had 61 points (39 goals and 22 assists) in 82 games.

Smyth was a steady force up front in Edmonton early in his career and offered a nice mix of scoring prowess and grit. The six-foot-two 191-pounder played a key role in the Oilers' 2006 Stanley Cup run.

Smyth had 16 points (7-9) in 24 games that post-season as the Oilers dropped a seven-game series to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Smyth was shipped to the New York Islanders at the trade deadline during the 2006-07 season. Long-term contract negotiations between Smyth's agent, Don Meehan, and Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe went to the 11th hour but the two sides couldn't reach a deal.

With Smyth due to become a free agent that summer, Lowe didn't want to risk losing him for nothing in the off-season. Smyth said goodbye to Edmonton during an emotional news conference at the city airport.

The Oilers got Robert Nilsson, Ryan O'Marra and New York's first-round pick in that year's draft in the deal.

Smyth played two seasons with Colorado and two more with Los Angeles before he asked Kings GM Dean Lombardi for a trade in 2011. A deal was finalized in June of that year when the Oilers gave up forward Colin Fraser and a seventh-round draft choice in the 2012 draft to re-acquire Smyth.

He has provided some veteran leadership on a young Oilers squad over his last three seasons.

Saturday will be Smyth's last chance to set a team record for power-play goals. Smyth and Glenn Anderson have 126 each, one ahead of Gretzky.

Perron said Saturday's game will be special.

"It will be pretty emotional for him tomorrow. Even for us," said Perron. "It's a pretty sad day."

Internationally, Smyth played at two Winter Games, helping Canada win gold at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002.

Smyth also won gold at the World Cup of Hockey in 2004 and represented Canada at seven straight world hockey championship during his prime.

Smyth played two seasons with Colorado and two more with Los Angeles before he asked Kings GM Dean Lombardi for a trade in 2011.