Should NHL players be forced to wear Kevlar socks?

[hf101]

Following the injury to Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson, discussions have been sparked about whether more NHL players should be wearing Kevlar-based material to prevent accidental cuts from skate blades.

In the wake of the lacerated Achilles Tendon suffered by Ottawa Senators star defenseman Erik Karlsson on Wednesday night, has risen a revitalized discourse about measures NHL players can take to avoid a similar fate.

Namely, wearing socks and shirts made out of kevlar.

Anaheim Ducks star Teemu Selanne is one of the biggest supporters of wearing kevlar fashioned material, as he suffered the same injury as Karlsson while playing for the Winnipeg Jets during the 1994 season. Labeling the decision not to wear the material as "stupid," Selanne wears kevlar socks as well as kevlar sleeves to protect his wrists.

Following practice at Joe Louis Arena on Thursday, Selanne demonstrated during his media availability how effective kevlar material is against skate blades, via Ansar Kahn of MLive.com:

Sitting in the visitors dressing room at Joe Louis Arena Thursday, Teemu Selanne slipped on a Kevlar sleeve, grabbed his skate and attempted to slice his wrist.

"This doesn't cut,'' Selanne, the Anaheim Ducks star forward, said. "The socks, same thing. I don't understand why they are not (mandatory). It's so light, doesn't bother you at all.''

In the Red Wings locker room, players like Daniel Cleary, Jonathan Ericsson, Mikael Samuelsson and Niklas Kronwall all discussed the benefits of wearing kevlar. Cleary acknowledged how drastic the outcome of a freak accident could be if a player is wearing the protection:

"Instead of a severed tendon, you'd probably get some stitches. It's like a bullet-proof vest; it's going to hurt and probably leave a mark, just not as deep.''

In Carolina, more than half of the Hurricanes roster uses some kind of kevlar material because of past occurrences where Joe Corvo, Chad LaRose and Cam Ward suffered cuts.

Hurricanes senior director of communications Mike Sundheim told Tim Wharnsby that no member of the team has suffered a cut since using the material. Sundheim believes more players will wear the material in the wake of the Karlsson incident and shared a story from the team's equipment manager, via CBC.ca:

"Our equipment guy did tell a story where one of our guys, he thought it was Justin Faulk, was struck in the leg while wearing these (kevlar) last year," Sundheim said. "He said you could see the mark on the sock where he was hit, but he was not injured."

In Vancouver, Canucks players entered the locker room on Thursday morning to find a pair of Kevlar socks laid out in each player's locker. Defenseman Kevin Bieksa has been wearing kevlar socks for five years since having his achilles cut during a game in 2007.

He also believes all players should be wearing them, via the National Post:

"We have done some tests with [the socks material] and taken the X-Acto knife to it and scissors, and it doesn't go all the way through," he said. "So I don't know why you wouldn't wear them."

Discussions about using kevlar based material has also come up with the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals, as Devils coach Pete DeBoer is thinking about talking to his players about it and Washington players such as Alex Ovechkin, Eric Fehr and Jay Beagle already wear kevlar socks.

However, much like with visors on helmets or guards on skates, the decision to use the protection is up to individual players.

While a piece of equipment could better protect the players, it might also cause them some discomfort during play. This is commonly the explanation given by players who choose not to wear visors, skate guards or the kevlar material.

Ultimately, players need to evaluate whether a bit of initial discomfort while adjusting to a piece of equipment is worse than the risk of serious injury.

With Karlsson projected to miss approximately six months while recovering, adjusting to a sock might not be such a bad option in the larger scheme of things.

[jammer2]

@hf101 I don't know about forcing them to wear it, I'm more concerned about why they would *not* want to wear them. As long as their is no felxibility issues, and it does not hinder play (sounds like it does not according to Selanne), why in the holy hell would you want to have yourself exposed to a potential career ending injury if you could avoid it. I guess it's kinda like the seatbelt, you gotta make a law or people are to stupid to protect themselves. This is a no brainer for the NHL and the NHLPA...they should make this happen, sooner rather than later.

[ZeZel25]

To take care of the possible " It hinders my play" speech, make all players use them and it's a fair game. Players are so, so superstituous that they won't wear anything new, or try it. The league can make it a little safer in that area.

[mojo1917]

I wonder if they make your boots smell bad ? Or smell bad more quickly, I would think you could make them a similar weight to sanitaries... Seems like a no brainier for me.

[B21]

@hf101 I don't know about forcing them to wear it, I'm more concerned about why they would *not* want to wear them. As long as their is no felxibility issues, and it does not hinder play (sounds like it does not according to Selanne), why in the holy hell would you want to have yourself exposed to a potential career ending injury if you could avoid it. I guess it's kinda like the seatbelt, you gotta make a law or people are to stupid to protect themselves. This is a no brainer for the NHL and the NHLPA...they should make this happen, sooner rather than later.

There was a similar demonstration on the Pens' pre-game last night. They really do seem to be just as flexible as a regular pair of socks. The Pens' equipment manager tried to slice a sock with a skate like he was cutting his steak. Didn't even tear. If I'm the NHL, I try to make it mandatory and let the players vote it down if they think they hinder movement.

[hf101]

Likewise for the Flyers: During Friday's morning skate Schenn, McGinn, Fedotenko, and Simmonds - were trying out the Kevlar-reinforced, cut-proof socks for the first time under their equipment.

The Vancouver Canucks placed a pair in every player's locker stall on Thursday.

Only Couturier has worn the socks before Karlsson's injury. A decision made since he required stitches during the playoffs last season against the Devils.

"I don't even remember how the cut happened, it happened quick, I'm not even sure which play," Couturier said. "It was scary. The socks are similar, maybe a little thicker, but I'm not really picky on that. It doesn't bother me."

I think that the deciding factor for players not wearing them will be the thickness of the sock. But when it mean a slice could end your career, I would think most will choose to wear them.

[AlaskaFlyerFan]

Until they make the wear of other protective gear mandatory, then I say no. This would be my list and no "grandfather" clause.

Helmets at all times including warmups with the chin strar tight enough so the helmet won't come off.

Half Shield

Foot/Skate protector

Kevlar under garments (long sleeve shirt, long leg pants, socks)

Mouthpiece

Edited February 16, 2013 by AlaskaFlyerFan

[Polaris922]

It's going to be player's choice. Where I work, bullet resistant vests are OPTIONAL. The department will buy them for you, and it gives them a break on insurance premiums, but they tried to make it mandatory and (would you believe) my officer's union filed a labor grievance against it!! So we have the option. I personally wear one every day. It's a promise I made to my kids. Why wouldn't anyone want the better protection which apparently doesn't hinder skilled guys like Selanne? I dunno... but if my co-workers can do it over life saving vests... people must just want the choice.

[doom88]

No, don't force them. They will choose when ready.

Or, make them mandatory at the junior and college level.

[radoran]

If I am a team that is going to invest milllions of dollars in an asset, I'm requiring that asset to take reasonable steps to protect themselves from injury.

There is no reasonable reason to not wear the kevlar. None.