News

Oct 16, 2024

Monday's hockey: AHL mandates neck protection

Denver — At first, the protective undershirt resembling a mock turtleneck was hot and uncomfortable. It even caused Jayson Megna's visor to fog up. But the journeyman hockey player stuck with wearing

Denver — At first, the protective undershirt resembling a mock turtleneck was hot and uncomfortable. It even caused Jayson Megna's visor to fog up.

But the journeyman hockey player stuck with wearing the long-sleeved base layer designed to protect his neck from a razor-sharp skate blade.

Since the death of Adam Johnson in October 2023 during a game in England, protective equipment has been a prime topic at every level of the sport. The American Hockey League, the top developmental league below the NHL, took a big step this season by requiring all skaters, referees and linespersons to wear some sort of cut-resistant neck protection.

Like the requirement of eye-protecting visors a decade ago, the neckwear could take some getting used to. It is becoming more common for players of all ages – Hockey Canada has mandated neck guard protection for youth players for three decades and USA Hockey made it mandatory for U.S. players under 18 as of Aug. 1 – and now all eyes are on the pros.

“Hopefully that’s what’s going to end up happening as we move forward here, that it’s just going to be a piece of their equipment,” said AHL president and CEO Scott Howson, whose league has long been a testing ground for the NHL, including 3-on-3 overtime and the mandate for cut-resistant socks and sleeves last season. “With the different products out there, hopefully all the players can find something that they can adapt to and eventually like – or, at the very least, not notice when they’re playing hockey.”

The death of Johnson was a horrific reminder of the risks. The former NHL player was cut in the neck during a game and died at a hospital. Guidelines exist for many youth programs in North America and beyond, but not at the highest levels of hockey, where league and players' union leaders have discussed the topic for years.

Neck guards are getting a trial run in the AHL, which starts Friday, with unanimous backing from NHL executives on the competition committee.

“Last year some teams just decided, ‘Well, I can’t do it in the NHL, but I can do it in the American League,'” Howson explained. “We’ll see where it goes.”

The arguments against protective neckwear range from it being too hot to too restrictive to players simply being creatures of habit.

“Obviously, there’s things that people should do, but I think we’re stuck in our ways, also," said New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes, who added he doesn't wear nearly enough protective equipment. “Got to be comfortable.”

Longtime NHL player Pierre-Edouard Bellemare had planned on wearing a neck guard this season for the Colorado Avalanche before he was let go last week. He exalted the benefits of visors by pointing to the cuts in his beard that could've been worse if not for the eye protection.

Because on the ice, anything can happen.

“The game is faster and you have less control, sometimes to your body and the cutting all over the place is not something you want to see,” Bellemare said.

Bellemare simply wanted to pave the way for the next generation, like other players did before him with visors.

“It doesn’t cost me much" to wear protective neck gear, Bellemare said. "Come on, it’s a neck guard. That’s not going to change my season. I’m not going score 70 because I have a neck guard or not.”

Veteran Dylan McIlrath, a former Red Wings defenseman who captained Hershey to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in the AHL, did not experiment with any neck protection during training camp in Washington and concedes players will endure some growing pains with the equipment. But the 32-year-old is not protesting too much.

“To be honest, I think it’s probably the right call," McIlrath said. "Obviously it’s a younger league and the next generation coming up … guys can get used to it going into the NHL after playing in the American League a few years, they don’t really notice the changes."

Megna, who was recently assigned to the AHL's Colorado Eagles, has tried out different types of neck protection and brands. He's been wearing one by T.J. Oshie's Warroad Hockey Apparel that boasts “an adjustable neck collar built from premium grade cut resistant fabric and high-impact foam.” His undershirt has cut-proof sleeves.

Megna also wears cut-proof socks, which prevented a possible calf or Achilles injury last season when a player stepped on him with a skate blade.

“I could feel the skate there – felt like a burning sensation, and the protective sock saved me,” Megna said. “I didn’t even have a scratch. … Any time you can protect your players and increase safety, it’s a good thing."

Megna said it didn't take long to adjust to the new gear – maybe a session or two.

“After that, I haven’t even thought about it,” said Megna, who's spent time with a half-dozen NHL organizations. “It’s just part of what I wear now.”

The NHL currently does not have any mandate that players must wear cut-resistant gear. That would require an agreement between the league and union.

St. Louis forward Robert Thomas understands the hesitation.

“For a lot of guys, it’s foreign, and you don’t want to change up what you’ve been doing your whole life,” Thomas said. “I think they’ve done a good job of having all that available to us. Some guys wear it, some guys don’t. I think giving guys the choice is ultimately the right decision.”

Eagles defenseman Jacob MacDonald anticipates that once he starts wearing the extra protection for his neck, it will become part of his routine – whether he's in the AHL or called up to the NHL.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, but I think that it will definitely get more popular,” MacDonald said. “If it saves one life, it’s worth it.”

Eleven months ago, the Edmonton Oilers lost 10 of their first 13 games and fired coach Jay Woodcroft.

Kris Knoblauch was brought in as his replacement, the team recovered and roared into the playoffs, winning the Western Conference and losing Game 7 of a thrilling Stanley Cup Final to Florida.

The Oilers have started off a season-opening homestand with three straight losses and have been outscored 15-3, a surprising result for a team that is the betting favorite to win the Cup. Does Knoblauch see any similarities?

“When I got here, one of the things I noticed, obviously, was the frustration,” Knoblauch said after the Oilers’ 4-1 loss Sunday to Calgary. “It’s only three games in. But that frustration, definitely it’s there – but not at the point that it was when I came here. But obviously we have to correct what’s going on right now.”

Even with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, the Oilers have scored just two even-strength goals. The power play has just one goal in three games, with only five chances. They've given up five power-play goals.

There is one word that consistently crept into what Knoblauch and his players said about the team’s play so far this season: “Disconnected.”

“We’re getting beat in a lot of battles, we’re getting beat in a lot of different ways,” McDavid said. “The puck play has been bad all over. Guys have been fumbling it, guys not handling it. Passes in the air, passes behind guys, it’s just not good enough in terms of the puck play.”

Forwards Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele were anchors for the penalty kill last season and both are gone, McLeod traded to Buffalo and Foegele signing with Los Angeles. Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais also left.

The Oilers did add forwards Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, who should add scoring prowess to the second line. But, in losing Foegele, McLeod and forward Dylan Holloway, the Oilers have lost some of their speed. They’re also the oldest team in the NHL, the only one with an average age over 30.

“Sometimes, I think there can be a bit of an adjustment with new faces,” said veteran forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “But I don’t think it’s the new guys or personnel – it’s about getting back to what makes our penalty kill tick. I think maybe we’re a little hesitant with our routes. Later in the season, it’s just so natural – it’s kind of finding it, again.”

Knoblauch said that some of the issues can be addressed through practice.

“Obviously, we have to play with more desperation,” he said. “When you had a season like we did last year, coming back, and the expectations being really high, I don’t think there’s enough desperation … This game is about playing with desperation, but, right now, we’re lacking that.”

The Oilers played Saturday and Sunday, host the Flyers on Tuesday and then are in Nashville on Thursday and in Dallas on Saturday.

McDavid is sure the team can find its way out of the doldrums once more.

“We’re not quitters in here, we never have been,” said McDavid. “Losing three in a row off the bat is not ideal, but it’s nothing we can’t work our way out of.”

▶ (At) Ottawa 8, Los Angeles 7 (OT): Josh Norris (Oxford) capped a two-goal effort with the game-winning goal 56 seconds into overtime for the Senators.

Zack MacEwen also had a pair for the Senators, with Jake Sanderson, Drake Batherson, Thomas Chabot and Claude Giroux also chipping in.

Anton Forsberg surrendered three goals on nine shots before being replaced by Mads Sogaard, who was recalled on an emergency basis Monday morning and allowed four goals on 17 shots.

Kevin Fiala and Alex Laferriere each scored a pair for the Kings, while Trevor Lewis, Adrian Kempe and Tanner Jeannot also scored. Darcy Kuemper made 33 saves.

▶ (At) New Jersey 3, Utah 0: Jake Allen registered his first shutout with New Jersey and rookie defenseman Seamus Casey (University of Michigan) scored early in the second period as the Devils downed Utah.

Stefan Noesen and Nico Hischier also scored for the Devils, who won for the fourth time in five games. New Jersey missed the playoffs last year.

Utah lost for the first time in four games. They won their home opener over Chicago, then defeated the Islanders and Rangers in overtime to start their current road trip.

Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves for Utah in his first start this season. Allen had 20 saves.

▶ Florida 4, (at) Boston 3: Sam Reinhart scored on a power play and added a short-handed goal that gave Florida the lead for good in the second period as the defending Stanley Cup champions beat Boston.

Anton Lundell also scored twice and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 shots for Florida, which has eliminated Boston from the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

Mason Lohrei and Johnny Beecher each had a goal and an assist for the Bruins, and Mark Kastelic had three assists. Jeremy Swyaman, making his third straight start after missing the opener following a contract holdout, made 22 saves in his first loss of the season.

▶ Pittsburgh 6, (at) Montreal 3: Lars Eller had two goals against his former team, Evgeni Malkin had a goal and two assists, and Pittsburgh beat Montreal.

Kris Letang, Kevin Hayes and Rickard Rakell also scored for Pittsburgh, and Tristan Jarry stopped 24 shots.

Sidney Crosby was held off the scoresheet, keeping him one point shy of 1,600. The 37-year-old is looking to become just the 10th player in NHL history to reach the mark.

Kaiden Guhle, Juraj Slafkovsky and Emil Heineman scired for Montreal. Nick Suzuki and Mike Matheson each had two assists and Sam Montembeault made 26 saves.

▶ N.Y. Islanders 6, (at) Colorado 2: Brock Nelson scored his first two goals of the season 2:49 apart in the second period, and New York beat Colorado to give coach Patrick Roy a win in his first game back in Denver.

Roy won two of his four Stanley Cup wins with Colorado and coached the team for three years before stepping down a month before training camp in 2016.

Anthony Duclair, Kyle Palmieri, Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal also scored for the Islanders, and Ilya Sorokin stopped 32 shots.

Calum Ritchie got his first NHL goal and Casey Mittelstadt also scored for Colorado, which has dopped its first three games Alexandar Georgiev made 32 saves.

More than a decade ago, Alex Ovechkin won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP during his first season playing right wing instead of his usual left. The next year, playing in the same spot, he scored a league-best 51 goals.

“I’ll take it right now,” Ovechkin said.

So would the Washington Capitals, who might get a spark from Ovechkin shifting to the right side for their second game of the season Tuesday against Vegas. Coach Spencer Carbery downplayed the move as an adjustment to balance out the lineup, but it could have a big impact as Ovechkin at age 39 chases Wayne Gretzky's career goals record.

“I think it’s a small change,” Carbery said. "I find him on both sides of the ice a lot, and so left, right, it’s not a huge deal to me.”

Ovechkin joked, “Maybe I’m going to play goalie.” No, that will be Logan Thompson against his former team, the Golden Knights, who traded him in the offseason following a difference of opinion on his role with the organization.

After a 5-3 loss to New Jersey in the opener, Carbery moved Aliaksei Protas to top-line left wing – Ovechkin's spot for the better part of his 20-year career in North America – alongside center Dylan Strome.

“We just mix it up,” Ovechkin said. "We still have options to find out combinations. It’s the beginning of the year, new faces on the team, so we have to find the right combinations, right chemistry, so that’s what we’re trying to do right now.”

Ovechkin played right wing in the lockout-shortened 2013 season and then again in 2013-14 when Adam Oates coached the team. Oates thought the right-handed-shooting Ovechkin had been on the wrong side all along.

Five goals in his first 16 games was a rough start, then Ovechkin scored 27 in his final 32 to get Washington into the playoffs.

“I have experience to play there, but it was a long time (ago),” Ovechkin said. "You start on the left or right, it doesn’t matter because in the game you’re coming from offensive zone to (the defensive) zone and you stay on the right side. So, play basically most of the time there – left or right.”

The Columbus Blue Jackets now have what they call a “Johnny skate” at the end of practice. It's a shot someone takes from the far end of the ice toward the opposite goal. Make it, players skate one lap. Miss it, players skate three laps.

That's as in 1 and 3. 13. Johnny Gaudreau's jersey number.

And the shooter on Monday missed it on purpose. Nobody minded, since it was Johnny Gaudreau's father.

Guy Gaudreau – the father of the late brothers John and Matthew Gaudreau – was a guest at the Blue Jackets' practice in Columbus, a day before the team's home opener against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. He skated around with a few players, tapped his stick on the ice to encourage players as they skated past and had a fist-bump for everybody before the session ended

“He loves the game, loves hockey,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. “It was a joy to have him out there.”

Guy Gaudreau is former hockey coach at Hollydell Ice Arena and Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey. John Gaudreau – a star who would have been entering his third season with the Blue Jackets and 11th full NHL season – and Matthew Gaudreau were killed on Aug. 29 when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding their bicycles on a rural road in South Jersey on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding.

“It's great to have Guy here,” Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly said. “Just reminds you of the exact same stuff John would do.”

Monday wasn't Guy Gaudreau's first time on the ice this season; he was a guest of the Philadelphia Flyers last month. Evason said the team got the idea to have Guy Gaudreau at practice from the gesture that Flyers coach John Tortorella made.

Tuesday night will be emotional for the Blue Jackets – for the whole NHL, really. The tributes to the Gaudreau brothers have poured in from around the hockey world for the past several weeks. In Calgary, where “Johnny Hockey” started his NHL career, goaltender Dustin Wolf's mask is now a memorial of sorts to the Gaudreau brothers, featuring both their jersey numbers, Johnny Gaudreau in a Flames uniform and it even includes purple Gatorade and Skittles, two of his go-to treats.

Guy Gaudreau was asked if he wanted to address the team Monday and initially declined, but eventually had a bit of a chat with players. And in case there was any doubt about whether he enjoyed being on the ice with Johnny's club on Monday, he had a question for Evason after practice.

The question: Are you having a morning skate on Tuesday?

When told that the Blue Jackets are, Guy Gaudreau said he'd be there for that as well.

“He just wants to be around,” Evason said. “It's fantastic.”

Monday

▶ Rangers 4, Red Wings 1

Thursday

▶ Rangers at Red Wings, 7:30

▶ Bowling Green at Western Michigan, 7

Friday, Oct. 18

▶ Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7

▶ Windsor at Michigan State, 6

▶ St. Cloud at Michigan, 7

▶ Alaska Anchorage at Northern Michigan, 7

▶ Ferris State at St. Lawrence, TBA

▶ NTDP U18 at Harvard, 7

▶ Muskegon at NTDP U17, 7

Saturday, Oct. 19

▶ Red Wings at Predators, 2

▶ Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7

▶ St. Cloud at Michigan, 7

▶ York University at Western Michigan, 6

▶ Alaska Anchorage at Northern Michigan, 6

▶ Ferris State at St. Lawrence, TBA

▶ NTDP U18 at Boston College, noon

▶ Muskegon at NTDP U17, 7

Tuesday, Oct. 22

▶ Red Wings at Islanders, 7:45

Thursday, Oct. 24

▶ Devils at Red Wings, 7

Friday, Oct. 25

▶ Grand Rapids at Springfield, 7

▶ Michigan State at Canisius, 7

▶ Arizona State at Northern Michigan, 6

▶ Clarkson at Michigan Tech, 7

▶ Bemidji State at Ferris State, 7

▶ NTDP U18 at Michigan, 7

▶ NTDP U17 at Dubuque, 8

Saturday, Oct. 26

▶ Red Wings at Sabres, 1

▶ Grand Rapids at Lehigh Valley, 7

▶ Michigan State at Canisius, 7

▶ Western Michigan at Boston College, 7

▶ Clarkson at Michigan Tech, 6

▶ Bemidji State at Ferris State, 6

▶ NTDP U18 at Adrian, 3

▶ NTDP U17 at Dubuque, 8

Sunday, Oct. 27

▶ Oilers at Red Wings, 6

▶ Grand Rapids at Lehigh Valley, 3

Wednesday, Oct. 30

▶ Jets at Red Wings, 7:30

▶ Grand Rapids at Hartford, 7