Trudeau heads to ASEAN summit and Ukraine defence meetings this week

Jack Hughes still wants to have the choice.

The New Jersey Devils star goes to battle every night looking for any potential edge in a sport that, at the highest level, has razor-thin margins.

Feeling good on the ice in an NHL game is a big part of the equation.

With that in mind, how much cut-resistant gear, which moved to the forefront of hockey’s safety conversation last season after the death of a player from a skate cut to the neck during a game in England, does Hughes wear under his equipment?

“Not nearly enough,” he replied. “Gotta be comfortable.”

That decision, however, could one day be taken out of players’ hands.

The American Hockey League, the NHL’s top development circuit, has made cut-resistant neck protection mandatory for anyone taking the ice beginning this season.

That followed the decision ahead of the 2023-24 AHL campaign to mandate cut-resistant socks and wrist sleeves.

The NHL has no such rule — it would have to be collectively bargained with the NHL Players’ Association — but deputy commissioner Bill Daly hopes a time comes where that’s the case.

“I think we’re moving in that direction,” said Daly, who added an overwhelming majority of players currently wear cut-resistant socks.

The league and union strongly emphasized wrist sleeves ahead of last season, according to Daly, before neck protection became a focus following the death of Elite Ice Hockey League player Adam Johnson, an American who previously had brief stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, at age 29 in October 2023.

Neck guards were already mandatory in two of Canada’s three top junior leagues — the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League — prior to the incident in England. The Western Hockey League followed suit last November, while the International Ice Hockey Federation subsequently made neck protection mandatory at its tournaments.

A handful of NHL players took it upon themselves to wear neck guards last season after Johnson’s death, including then-Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi.

Daly, however, said he understands the pushback.

“They’re the highest level of the game,” he said at last month’s NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. “(They) don’t want to be told necessarily what to do and what not to do, particularly when it could affect performance on some basis. They’re not going to jump into allowing us to make it mandatory.

“(The NHLPA is) working constructively with us to at least make the players aware of the benefits of protecting themselves better than they have in the past.”

Daly said the league proposed a rule for cut-resistant gear.

“But we clearly understand where the union’s coming from,” he continued. “And some of the difficulties they have with their constituents. It’s (a) process.”

A process that could eventually mirror the introduction of other safeguards.

Players entering the league ahead of the 1979-1980 season were mandated to wear helmets. Visors, meanwhile, became compulsory in time for the 2013-14 campaign for anyone with fewer than 25 games of NHL experience.

The league has seen some scary moments involving skate blades. Buffalo Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk survived a cut to his neck in 1989. More recently, Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane suffered a deep cut on his wrist in November 2022.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki got a look at the latest models of cut-resistant equipment at the recent player media tour.

“Definitely a bigger conversation,” he said. “But I like to have the freedom of what I’m wearing. We’re all professionals and old enough to make our own decisions.”

Suzuki did point out he wore neck guards in minor hockey and the OHL: “Didn’t really affect anything.”

So why take it off?

“I don’t know,” he replied. “I was just following what everyone else has done.”

Vegas Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel said players are set in their ways.

“Guys are pretty committed to whatever they’re using,” he said. “You see guys … they’ve had the same shoulder pads or shin pads for 15 years.”

Washington Capitals defenceman John Carlson, poised for his 16th NHL season, sees a day coming when neck protection is mandatory.

“Everything seems burdensome when it’s a change,” he said. “But its intention is in the correct place. Time rolls on like anything else … just becomes normal.”

Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett suffered a skate cut to his ankle when he was younger. He doesn’t think NHLers would put up much fuss on neck guards.

“Guys have just gotten used to not wearing it, myself included,” he said. “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.”

Hughes, however, believes the choice should remain with individual 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.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2024.

___

Follow @JClipperton_CP on X.

Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer took a moment to touch on his profession’s job security.

Or lack thereof.

“It’s insanity,” DeBoer said in May during the NHL playoffs after the league saw its 19th coaching change since the end of the 2022-23 season. “We coach in an age where everyone talks about the modern athlete, building relationships in order to coach them. How do you do that with that kind of turnover?

“It’s like going on a date and getting married and divorced before the appetizers show up. I don’t get it, but that’s the world we live in.”

That world has seen an astounding level of turnover that speaks to the desperation felt by organizations when things turn sour and the temperature is turned up.

“I wouldn’t want to be a head coach right now,” New York Islanders centre Bo Horvat said at the recent NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. “It’s tough.”

St. Louis Blues counterpart Robert Thomas saw the only pro coach he’d ever played for — Stanley Cup winner Craig Berube — get fired last December. Berube subsequently replaced Sheldon Keefe in Toronto after the Maple Leafs handed their bench boss his walking papers.

Keefe, in turn, took over for Lindy Ruff with the New Jersey Devils. Ruff, meanwhile, returned for a second stint with the Buffalo Sabres when Don Granato was canned.

“Coaching changes are hard,” Thomas said. “Sometimes it takes a little bit to adjust, but a breath of fresh air changes things in the room.”

Of the 32 coaches standing behind benches at the start of last season, 12 are no longer in the same role — including the retired Rick Bowness.

“It’s a results-driven league,” Vegas Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel said. “If you don’t win, you get replaced. If you don’t produce, you get replaced.

“If you’re not performing and not getting results, they usually just go find someone that will.”

Not all coaching moves are equal. The Columbus Blue Jackets cut ties with Mike Babcock for off-ice reasons prior to the 2023-24 campaign. Jacques Martin was brought back by the Ottawa Senators on an interim basis after D.J. Smith was axed to keep the seat warm for Travis Green. Scott Arniel, meanwhile, took over the Winnipeg Jets when Bowness hung up his clipboard.

The job, however, remains incredibly volatile.

“I don’t know what the average lifespan of the coach in a specific organization is, but I know it’s got to be short,” New York Rangers forward Vincent Trochek said. “(General managers) have to make moves if things aren’t going well.”

Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart watched Presidents’ Trophy-winning coach Andrew Brunette, now with the Nashville Predators, get fired after a second-round playoff exit in 2022. Paul Maurice took the reins and led the club on back-to-back runs to the Cup final, including June’s victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

“Tough business to be in,” Reinhart said. “Especially when 31 teams go home unhappy every year.”

But there are the organizations with a measure of stability.

Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper has the longest current tenure dating back to March 2013.

Lightning captain Victor Hedman said that continuity, even through tough times and playoff disappointments, helped his team lift the Cup twice (2020, 2021) and make three straight finals.

“It’s huge,” Hedman said. “Especially if you have a coach and a core group of players who have been with him the whole time, have bought into his message and his philosophies.”

The big defenceman added Cooper’s ability to evolve has no doubt helped his longevity.

“Really good at finding a way to play to make our team the most successful,” Hedman said. “You’re going to go through injuries, you’re going to go through different players.

“Really good at feeling out the room, feeling out the guys, and knowing when to push what buttons.”

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, on the job since December 2015, led the franchise to Cup wins in 2016 and 2017. Jared Bednar, meanwhile, has been with the Avalanche since August 2016, and guided Colorado to the 2022 title.

“That would suck … I wouldn’t want a new coach every couple years,” Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon said. “There’s so many factors going into winning. Health is a big one, just the right group of guys, the right mix.”

Horvat, who experienced a coaching change in January when Patrick Roy replaced Lane Lambert, said players feel a level of guilt with a firing.

“Ultimately it’s on us and how we play,” he said. “It’s not always the coach’s fault. Sometimes you just need to change and it sparks something.”

Senators forward Shane Pinto said coaching casualties are a byproduct of a league with fine lines and small margins.

“But that’s what makes it beautiful,” he said. “That’s why it’s so rewarding when you win.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2024.

___

Follow @JClipperton_CP on X.

Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer took a moment to touch on his profession’s job security.

Or lack thereof.

“It’s insanity,” DeBoer said in May during the NHL playoffs after the league saw its 19th coaching change since the end of the 2022-23 season. “We coach in an age where everyone talks about the modern athlete, building relationships in order to coach them. How do you do that with that kind of turnover?

“It’s like going on a date and getting married and divorced before the appetizers show up. I don’t get it, but that’s the world we live in.”

That world has seen an astounding level of turnover that speaks to the desperation felt by organizations when things turn sour and the temperature is turned up.

“I wouldn’t want to be a head coach right now,” New York Islanders centre Bo Horvat said at the recent NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. “It’s tough.”

St. Louis Blues counterpart Robert Thomas saw the only pro coach he’d ever played for — Stanley Cup winner Craig Berube — get fired last December. Berube subsequently replaced Sheldon Keefe in Toronto after the Maple Leafs handed their bench boss his walking papers.

Keefe, in turn, took over for Lindy Ruff with the New Jersey Devils. Ruff, meanwhile, returned for a second stint with the Buffalo Sabres when Don Granato was canned.

“Coaching changes are hard,” Thomas said. “Sometimes it takes a little bit to adjust, but a breath of fresh air changes things in the room.”

Of the 32 coaches standing behind benches at the start of last season, 12 are no longer in the same role — including the retired Rick Bowness.

“It’s a results-driven league,” Vegas Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel said. “If you don’t win, you get replaced. If you don’t produce, you get replaced.

“If you’re not performing and not getting results, they usually just go find someone that will.”

Not all coaching moves are equal. The Columbus Blue Jackets cut ties with Mike Babcock for off-ice reasons prior to the 2023-24 campaign. Jacques Martin was brought back by the Ottawa Senators on an interim basis after D.J. Smith was axed to keep the seat warm for Travis Green. Scott Arniel, meanwhile, took over the Winnipeg Jets when Bowness hung up his clipboard.

The job, however, remains incredibly volatile.

“I don’t know what the average lifespan of the coach in a specific organization is, but I know it’s got to be short,” New York Rangers forward Vincent Trochek said. “(General managers) have to make moves if things aren’t going well.”

Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart watched Presidents’ Trophy-winning coach Andrew Brunette, now with the Nashville Predators, get fired after a second-round playoff exit in 2022. Paul Maurice took the reins and led the club on back-to-back runs to the Cup final, including June’s victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

“Tough business to be in,” Reinhart said. “Especially when 31 teams go home unhappy every year.”

But there are the organizations with a measure of stability.

Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper has the longest current tenure dating back to March 2013.

Lightning captain Victor Hedman said that continuity, even through tough times and playoff disappointments, helped his team lift the Cup twice (2020, 2021) and make three straight finals.

“It’s huge,” Hedman said. “Especially if you have a coach and a core group of players who have been with him the whole time, have bought into his message and his philosophies.”

The big defenceman added Cooper’s ability to evolve has no doubt helped his longevity.

“Really good at finding a way to play to make our team the most successful,” Hedman said. “You’re going to go through injuries, you’re going to go through different players.

“Really good at feeling out the room, feeling out the guys, and knowing when to push what buttons.”

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, on the job since December 2015, led the franchise to Cup wins in 2016 and 2017. Jared Bednar, meanwhile, has been with the Avalanche since August 2016, and guided Colorado to the 2022 title.

“That would suck … I wouldn’t want a new coach every couple years,” Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon said. “There’s so many factors going into winning. Health is a big one, just the right group of guys, the right mix.”

Horvat, who experienced a coaching change in January when Patrick Roy replaced Lane Lambert, said players feel a level of guilt with a firing.

“Ultimately it’s on us and how we play,” he said. “It’s not always the coach’s fault. Sometimes you just need to change and it sparks something.”

Senators forward Shane Pinto said coaching casualties are a byproduct of a league with fine lines and small margins.

“But that’s what makes it beautiful,” he said. “That’s why it’s so rewarding when you win.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2024.

___

Follow @JClipperton_CP on X.