It doesn’t matter if we are talking about Kevlar socks, or adding visors. Players do not want to accept changes. It’s sad really. It seems that someone will need to lose their life before players understand that safety changes need to be made. As the NHL player grows in size, and the game grows in speed, everything is happening with more power. More power means faster skating, and harder shots.  If it was something as simple as a pair of socks that could stop a career ending injury wouldn’t you put them on? If a visor could help save your vision wouldn’t you wear one?  It seems that common sense does not apply on NHL ice or in a NHL locker room. To make it even more simple, if you can’t see, you can’t play. If you can’t skate, you can’t play.

The average NHL players’ career is only about three to four years; of course the house hold names are around longer. My point is that most players only have a small window to do what they love.  The NHL will be a relatively small part of a player’s life. Yet, most players do not want to play it safe and would rather roll the dice when it comes to serious injuries.

The time will come when these simple safety changes will need to be put in place, and the NHL will need to figure out a way to keep its employee’s safe. Sometimes the “boss or company” just needs to figure out a way. As for the players, grow up, and try to think about how your life would be if you suffered a grave injury that could have been prevented by adding a small item like a pair of special socks, or a visor.

If the NHL and its players want to be role models for children at any level, they need to remember who is watching. Hockey is a different sport to begin with, it is the only sport I can think of that brings more risk as you move up the ranks. House leagues, travel leagues, College, and so on all require a cage. But when you reach the AHL or NHL players can take it off.  In the premier league in North America players may just have too much freedom when it comes to player safety.

The Buffalo Sabres might be without their top-scorer Thomas Vanek. He was hit with a puck during last night’s game and sustained a lower body injury. Bill Beacon of the Toronto Star reported that coach Ron Rolston believes the injury will be day-to-day:

“We’ll have to go day-to-day,” said Rolston. “He’s limping around a bit. It will probably be a day-to-day, pain-tolerance thing.”

Mar 9, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. The Penguins beat the Maple Leafs 5-4 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Evgeni Malkin skated in Pittsburgh Penguins practice on Tuesday according to NHL.com. He’s been out for 6 games with an upper-body injury that is not related to the concussion he sustained last month. Malkin said that he hopes to return to the Penguins line up on Friday.

According to Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland said that Patrick Eaves has no fractures in his jaw so he will be out day-to-day.

Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times reported that the Tampa Bay Lightning will be losing Ryan Malone indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Victor Hedman will also be out, he is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Both players were injured in Monday’s game.

Jan 29, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; Ottawa Senators left wing Milan Michalek (9) controls the puck in the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Place. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Ottawa Senators forward Milan Michalek is set to undergo knee surgery for an injury sustained February 13, the injury is expected to keep him out for one month. Michalek was out with the injury for 10 games hoping that resting the leg and trying rehabilitation would help  push surgery to the off-season. He returned for 2 games in early March before deciding that he wouldn’t be able to play through the injury. Michalek has 2 goals and 8 assists in the 15 games he played this season. He finished last season with an impressive 35 goals.

The Ottawa Senators injury department has been a busy place this season. With Erik Karlsson out for the season and the status of Jason Spezza and Craig Anderson still unknown you would think that the Senators would be struggling, but that isn’t the case. The teams young prospects seem to be able to carry the weight. The Senators are currently sitting quite comfortably at 5th in the Eastern conference and don’t seem to be headed for a slump anytime soon.