NHL looking to force players to wear new piece of equipment
The National Hockey League General Managers are currently in Florida, tackling various topics. One of the topics on the table is the discussion of making cut-resistant equipment mandatory for all new players entering the league. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed that the league is in talks with the National Hockey League Players Association and their representatives to make this happen, as reported by Chris Johnston.
Player safety has come a long way since the early days of the National Hockey League, particularly since the introduction of goalie masks by Jacques Plante and the requirement for all players who entered the league after June 1, 1979, to wear helmets. However, players who signed their professional contracts before that date could opt-out by signing a waiver.
The debate on whether mandating cut-resistant equipment would be welcome by current players in the league is divided between the younger players who seem to prefer "new gear, all the time" and veterans who may have a different opinion, as tweeted by Mario Tirabassi. Some veterans may have an attachment to their tattered gear that they have been using for many years.
Although the league appears to be taking a proactive approach to player safety, some believe that it may be a case of covering themselves from lawsuits, such as those brought upon by families of players like Steve Montador. Montador died tragically in 2015 due to an overdose, and it was later revealed that he had suffered multiple concussions over a short period of time that were either ignored or overlooked by medical staff connected to the National Hockey League.
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