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香蕉视频直播檚 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?

香蕉视频直播淣ot nearly enough,香蕉视频直播� he replied. 香蕉视频直播淕otta be comfortable.香蕉视频直播�

That decision, however, could one day be taken out of players香蕉视频直播� hands.

The American Hockey League, the NHL香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播� it would have to be collectively bargained with the NHL Players香蕉视频直播� Association 香蕉视频直播� but deputy commissioner Bill Daly hopes a time comes where that香蕉视频直播檚 the case.

香蕉视频直播淚 think we香蕉视频直播檙e moving in that direction,香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 three top junior leagues 香蕉视频直播� the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League 香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 death, including then-Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi.

Daly, however, said he understands the pushback.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e the highest level of the game,香蕉视频直播� he said at last month香蕉视频直播檚 NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. 香蕉视频直播�(They) don香蕉视频直播檛 want to be told necessarily what to do and what not to do, particularly when it could affect performance on some basis. They香蕉视频直播檙e not going to jump into allowing us to make it mandatory.

香蕉视频直播�(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.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淏ut we clearly understand where the union香蕉视频直播檚 coming from,香蕉视频直播� he continued. 香蕉视频直播淎nd some of the difficulties they have with their constituents. It香蕉视频直播檚 (a) process.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淒efinitely a bigger conversation,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut I like to have the freedom of what I香蕉视频直播檓 wearing. We香蕉视频直播檙e all professionals and old enough to make our own decisions.香蕉视频直播�

Suzuki did point out he wore neck guards in minor hockey and the OHL: 香蕉视频直播淒idn香蕉视频直播檛 really affect anything.香蕉视频直播�

So why take it off?

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know,香蕉视频直播� he replied. 香蕉视频直播淚 was just following what everyone else has done.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淕uys are pretty committed to whatever they香蕉视频直播檙e using,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou see guys 香蕉视频直播� they香蕉视频直播檝e had the same shoulder pads or shin pads for 15 years.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淓verything seems burdensome when it香蕉视频直播檚 a change,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut its intention is in the correct place. Time rolls on like anything else 香蕉视频直播� just becomes normal.香蕉视频直播�

Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett suffered a skate cut to his ankle when he was younger. He doesn香蕉视频直播檛 think NHLers would put up much fuss on neck guards.

香蕉视频直播淕uys have just gotten used to not wearing it, myself included,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey 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.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e the ones in our gear every day,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e the ones that want to keep ourselves safe 香蕉视频直播� last year was really unfortunate.

香蕉视频直播淏ut I think that香蕉视频直播檚 up to the guys.香蕉视频直播�