Player's Death from Skate Blade Injury Reignites Debate Over NHL Protective Gear Mandates

Former NHL player Adam Johnson's skate blade-inflicted fatality brings attention to hockey's slow adoption of safety improvements, sparking discussions around mandatory neck guards and cut-resistant gear.

The NHL's safety mandates have historically been slow and reactionary; helmets and goalie masks only became obligatory for new players in 1979, and eye-protecting visors were only regulated in 2013.
Key areas such as the neck, wrists, and back of the legs lack mandatory cut-resistant protective covering in the NHL, leading to many players suffering from skate cuts; some players have started wearing Kevlar socks and Cutlon fabric for better protection.
Many players hesistate to adopt cut-resistant gear due to concerns about comfort and performance on the ice.
Despite the tragic incidents, change in protective gear mandates is unlikely to occur rapidly due to the sport's historical resistance to such change.
In light of recent events, discussion around mandating protective gear such as neck guards has resumed at the league level; at the youth level, several mandates already exist.