The Great Skate Debate

As hockey fans, there are some fundamental truths we all know: it's fast, it's exciting, and it's dangerous. With 12 guys flying around an enclosed surface covered in ice with razors on their feet, carrying weapons and shooting frozen discs at 100mp/hr,  you'd understand why injuries are inevitable. And while the "Concussion Issue" has been first and foremost on everybody's mind, there is another, much more fatal, threat that shows it's ugly face every so often. And if you've seen the latest gruesome image floating around the internet, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Eric Wellwood's "Curt Schilling skate" via Danny Syvret's twitter.

On Sunday night, Eric Wellwood of the Adirondack Phantoms was rushed to the hospital after having an artery sliced in his leg, the results of which can be seen above. But unlike Erik Karlsson (who appears to be back skating ahead of schedule), Kevin Bieksa, Zach Redmond, and many others who have suffered such cuts from the feet of opponents or teammates, Wellwood's was self-inflicted. Who did what to whom doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things though. What matters is that it's time for the NHL to look at regulating Kevlar socks.

Bauer, one of the leading hockey manufacturers in the world, has a sock woven with Kevlar fiber which could be considered nearly "cut-proof". Yet there still seems some resistance by NHLer's to adopt the socks. Most Canucks started wearing Kevlar socks after Bieksa's injury, and many other teams had done the same, even before seeing what happend to All-Star Norris trophy-winning Karlsson earlier this season. "It's a personal choice, but I don't see why guys wouldn't (wear them)" said Bieksa, who has twice had to suffer through cuts on the back of his leg. Some claim that the weight and breatheability of the the socks is too uncomfortable, but that's really just as excuse. The truth to why some NHL players refuse is the same reason why full visors and neck guards haven't become regulation: toughness. The stigma that in order to play this game, you need to be tough, to block shots, to take hits and wearing extra protection makes one look weak. It's time that the NHL and the NHLPA got together and sorted this out properly, before someone loses their life on the ice. Lest we forget Clint Malarchuk....

Snap Shots:

Snap Shots is what I hope to be a regular feature of the blog where I add a few odds and ends from around the league. Enjoy :)

• Both Pittsburgh and Chicago have clinched already, with Anaheim and a few others to follow shortly. With most teams having only 10 games left, could this be the closest race to the finish we've ever seen?
• Ryan Kesler is back in the lineup tonight for Vancouver, and the city is abuzz. Finally having a healthy (minus David Booth) roster, I think that this may give the boost the Canucks need, at this most critical time of year. 
• Seems as though Alexi Emelin is done for the year in Montreal. That sucks. PK Subban and Andrei Markov (who has shockingly played every game this season) are going to have to pick up it up even more if the Habs have dreams of going deep this year. 
• And finally, he's a fun little gif from Henrik Sedin in the Canucks dressing room:

Til next time, 

-Puckhead