After U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal urged NHL comissioner Gary Bettman to change his stance on the link between concussions and long-term brain damage, Bettman stands firm.

"Obviously the senator has his opinions and we have ours," Bettman said Wednesday, according to Jonas Siegel of The Canadian Press.

Blumenthal reached out to the commissioner in June, and has since penned a letter on how the league should address the issue of concussions and possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in the brains of current and former players.

But Bettman has repeatedly denied Blumenthal's claims, and refuses to get in a "public debate" about the matter. Bettman also said he believes "medical and scientific decisions should be made by scientists and physicians."

Although both sides continue to go back and forth, Bettman doesn't believe it's worth much.

"It hasn't gained any traction," he said.

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