Bertuzzi choosing to lead by example in Toronto, this time with his cut-resistant equipment

While it hasn't been forced onto all players to wear neck guards, several NHLers have taken it upon themselves to take the necessary precautions. Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas was the first one to take the proactive step, mandating his AHL and ECHL players to wear neck guards.

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan agreed with the move but was hesitant when it came to the NHL, saying that it would take time for something like that to be mandated. Nevertheless we've seen a myriad of players like Rasmus Dahlin, Cam Atkinson, and now Tyler Bertuzzi donning the neck protection either in game or during practices.

Bertuzzi had first hand experience of being cut by a skate blade when he was with the Detroit Red Wings. In a game in January of 2022 he was forced out of the game due to a skate laceration to his wrist.

"It's always a scary thing," he said before his game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

Not only is he donning the necessary protection for his neck, he is also wearing cut-proof socks and wrist guards. There have been a lot of testers and different prototypes being passed around, so to each their own when it comes to comfortability.

"This one was pretty comfy and it goes pretty high," he said. "It gets a little hot at times but I'll take it off on the bench and I'll probably continue to use it."

In addition to Bertuzzi, Mark Giordano and Simon Benoit wore neck guards at practice last week. The veteran defenseman said he picked Bertuzzi's brain to understand more about the neck guards:

"It looked like it didn't bother him too much," Giordano said. "I think it's good that guys are using them across the league and more and more guys are starting to try different things."