at least the playoff race is heating up.
long suffering Flyers fan here (ironic Saints parallel), dating back to when we actually won a cup ( I was 8)

anybody have thoughts on the concussion epidemic? My take is the headgear is absolutely antiquated. Players flip helmets on and off like baseball caps-- how can these guys protect themselves in a game faster than football?

The concussion epidemic even goes as far down as the youth levels. IDK how many kids I've seen over the years get sidelined because of too many concussions.

The helmets are flimsy, IDC how high-speed they say the plastic they're made of is, inside there's nothing.

What I see in the Pro's is the guys don't wear the gear as it is intended to be worn anyway. That's why you see helmets flying everywhere.

The speed of the game is another thing, these guys are flying around at breakneck speeds hammering each other. It amazes me every time I go to a game how fast they play.

I like the argument that today's professional athlete is so much faster, stronger and the equipment has evolved to such a level that they're basically fearless of injury or hurting another player.

Taking them back to the days when they played with no helmets would actually slow them down a bit, IMO. Cuts down on the fighting too. But then there'd be countless lawsuits on player safety.

You just can't win.

I think that the helmets themselves are good enough to prevent injuries, but that is depended on the fact that they're used properly like SloMo said and more so that players play within the rules of the game. Concussions are not only caused by hits to the head, but also by the whiplash motion which can cause brain contusions, so should they start wearing neck braces?

It all has to start with the players' attitudes towards the game and the other players, if the players don't respect each other or the rules - there's no protective equipment that can cut out injuries from the game.

Furthermore, I don't think that these concussions are a new phenomenon in the NHL - they've been around for decades. But what has changed is the medical diagnoses system and its effectiveness, which has caused more emphasis to be given to the issue by both the league and the media.

Lets not forget that f.e. Eric Lindros had to retire because of the repetitive concussions he suffered, and some of those concussions were inflicted when he was the tackler/hitter. While it was Stevens' open ice hit that finally put the exclamation point on his career, it was his playing style that ultimately cost him the possibility of having a long career in the league.

Good points on how concussions are caused by other things then just 'gooning' it up. Sydney Crosby will probably be forced to retire here shortly due to concussions and he was never a physical/goon type player.

And that is why it is such a big issue now. The league is losing revenue when stars like Crosby are forced to sit out games or even retire completely from the game like what seems to have happened with Marc Savard. It's really a shame because I really liked Savard as a player, but he hasn't been able to play since January of last year, and I read somewhere that he still has health issues lingering from the concussions which affect his daily life.

On the other hand, there have been these deaths of NHL enforcers, both former and current, which is also a cause for concern, because some are saying that their depressions and pain killer addictions were caused by the injuries they sustained during their playing careers.

bottom line is that in hockey, and football, that the game is becoming too fast for the old-time 'tough guys', the guys who throw their bodies full force into everything and don't care as much about protective equipment or safety.
I think we'll see NFL-style helmets in hockey in the next 2-3 years. A concussion isn't like a blown knee or turf toe

I have to agree with both of you guys and I feel the more they 'armor' these athletes up, the worse it's going to get ... I mean, they feel invincible and launch themselves like missles.

Bob Probert (Det) was one of the former enforcers who died in July, 2010 who they determined suffered from a degenerative disease related to multiple concussions. Darren McCarty (Det) is going to be another one ... I just mention these guys because they're 'local', you see them around town, and you can tell from personal observation, something's not right.

R.I.P., Bobbie (#24) ... they brought you into the league to fight, but those of us around Windsor knew, if given the opportunity, you had the 'hands' to score ...

Too much machismo. I rarely see NHL level players take helmets seriously. Until, of course their face/head is shattered. Seriously, watch the players and see how loose they keep their straps (if strapped at all). It's ridiculous. All because guys want to be the toughest. I think there is more than enough evidence for the value of properly worn gear.

sidenote to my tangent, why aren't visors grandfathered in yet?