In the recent past, the NHL has seen a few tragic tipping points for head injuries and player safety.
Enforcer Derek Boogaard’s overdose death was one, which initially led to the question of hockey players taking prescription pills. When it was found his young brain had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease linked to head trauma for which there is no known cure, this created another wrinkle and questions about fighting’s place in the game – a query that still lingers.
The passing of former Blackhawks defenseman Steve Montador was the most recent hockey tragedy.