Faceoff Factor

Keep your head…and neck

Mike Wilson | National Hockey League

Apr 3, 11:02 PM | Hype this story!

This year has stood out as one for face and neck injuries. Historically, the National Hockey League is known for more face and neck injuries in its early days when the game provided less protection. But that is slowly changing.

There have been a couple players to go down for a few games due to face and neck injuries. The most notable this season is Richard Zednik. Watching the skate go into Zednik’s carotid artery sent a message out to the rest of the NHL. Luckily, Zednik came away with minor damage and returned in a matter of weeks.

After the incident, most players agreed that if the NHL made it optional to wear a neck protector, few actually would wear it. The neck protector only protects the lower half of the neck and, in Zednik’s case for example, would be ineffective.

Players simply felt that they would have to be more careful and watch what they were doing.

However, the Flyers’ Mike Richards and the Rangers’ Brandon Dubinsky seemed to have let that slip out of their mind.

Earlier this week, Evgeni Malkin had his own scare when Dubinsky’s skate caught him in the cheek. Malkin took ten stitches, but was overall no worse for wear.

On March 16, Malkin also had a close call against the Philadelphia Flyers when Mike Richards’ skate lifted as he fell to the ice and caught Malkin under the visor.

Though these skates weren’t intentional, they still could’ve been life-threatening. The players can’t be faulted; they do their job and sometimes, someone gets hurt in this fashion.

But isn’t there anything the NHL can do?

They could institute a cage mask rule where all players, regardless of whether they currently wear a visor or not, would be required to have a full cage on their helmets.

Few players would approve this, though, for it would have a possibility of interfering with their vision and might be too bulky to attach to their helmet. This also would play a factor with high-sticking penalties, which is one of the most frequent in today’s game, and might decrease their frequency.

As for the neck, it isn’t only hard to protect it in this sport, but in every sport as well. Unless there was a form of brace to keep the entire neck protected without causing discomfort or preventing certain movement, the NHL will most likely not adopt such a rule requiring a neck protector.

Heightened suspensions would only be suitable for an intentional injury, which no player in their right mind is looking for. Most of the injuries suffered in past situations have been accidental. So a stricter enforcement and greater fining from a front office stand point is not in order unless it makes the player cautious in the future.

If a change does come, it will most likely have to be from the players and their styles of play.

However, if more injuries like those to Zednik and Malkin continue to occur, with equal severity, the league will have no choice but to pass something into order to protect not only the stars, but every player in the NHL.