Jack Hughes Champions Player Choice Amid Rising Debate Over Mandatory Safety Gear

Jack Hughes, the New Jersey Devils’ star forward, knows the importance of gaining any potential edge in a sport defined by razor-thin margins. A key component in achieving that advantage is comfort on the ice, which is why he prefers to have control over his equipment choices.

So, how much cut-resistant gear does Hughes wear under his uniform—a subject that became central to hockey’s safety discourse after a tragic incident involving a player’s death due to a skate cut last season?

“Not nearly enough,” Hughes admitted. “Gotta be comfortable.”

But player preference may soon be overridden. The American Hockey League (AHL), which serves as the NHL’s top developmental league, has made cut-resistant neck protection mandatory starting this season. This policy follows last year’s decision to enforce the use of cut-resistant socks and wrist sleeves, a move aimed at prioritizing player safety.

The NHL, however, has not yet implemented such measures, as any new safety mandates would require negotiations with the NHL Players’ Association. Even so, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly believes that the league is progressing toward stricter safety rules. “I think we’re moving in that direction,” Daly said, adding that a majority of NHL players already wear cut-resistant socks voluntarily.

The push for enhanced safety protocols was intensified by the tragic death of 29-year-old American player Adam Johnson in October 2023. Johnson, who had brief stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was fatally injured by a skate blade during a game in England’s Elite Ice Hockey League. This incident brought attention to neck protection and propelled discussions within the hockey community.

Neck guards were already a requirement in two of Canada’s three major junior leagues—the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)—prior to Johnson’s death. The Western Hockey League (WHL) followed suit last November, and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has since mandated neck protection for its tournaments.

Even some NHL players took the initiative to wear neck guards following Johnson’s death, such as then-Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi. However, Daly understands why players might resist.

“They’re the highest level of the game,” he said. “They don’t want to be told what to do and what not to do, especially if it could impact performance. They’re not going to quickly allow us to make it mandatory.”

The NHLPA is collaborating with the league to raise awareness about the benefits of using cut-resistant equipment, but they recognize the difficulties involved. “We clearly understand where the union’s coming from and the challenges they face with their members,” Daly explained. “It’s a process.”

This process could eventually mirror other significant safety measures, such as mandating helmets for incoming players starting in 1979 and making visors compulsory for those with fewer than 25 games of NHL experience in 2013.

There have been multiple alarming incidents involving skate blades in the league’s history. Buffalo Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk’s brush with death after a neck cut in 1989 is still remembered, while Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane suffered a severe wrist injury from a skate blade in 2022.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki recently examined the latest models of cut-resistant gear at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour. “Definitely a bigger conversation,” he noted. “But I like having the freedom of what I’m wearing. We’re all professionals and old enough to make our own decisions.”

Suzuki mentioned that he wore neck guards during minor hockey and his time in the OHL without issue: “Didn’t really affect anything.” So why did he stop wearing them? “I don’t know,” he shrugged. “I was just following what everyone else has done.”

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel echoed this sentiment, noting that players are creatures of habit. “Guys are pretty committed to whatever they’re using,” Eichel said. “You see guys … they’ve had the same shoulder pads or shin pads for 15 years.”

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, who is entering his 16th NHL season, foresees a future where neck protection will be mandatory. “Everything seems burdensome when it’s a change,” he observed. “But its intention is in the right place. Time rolls on like anything else … just becomes normal.”

Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett, who once suffered a skate cut to his ankle, thinks NHL players wouldn’t strongly oppose wearing neck guards. “Guys have just gotten used to not wearing it, myself included,” he admitted. “They know why and the reasoning behind (a potential mandate). It sucks it had to happen the way it did for it to shed some light.”

Nevertheless, Hughes maintains that the choice should remain with the players. “We’re the ones in our gear every day,” he said. “We’re the ones that want to keep ourselves safe … last year was really unfortunate. But I think that’s up to the guys.”