Nash Daily: IIHF Mandating Neck Guards, Ingram First Star of Week

In lieu of Adam Johnson’s tragic death a little over four weeks ago, the International Ice Hockey Federation is mandating neck guards be worn by players during any IIHF-run competition, including the Olympics and World Championship.

The mandate covers only games and tournaments governed by the IIHF and excludes professional leagues like the NHL, KHL or SM-Liiga. The NHL currently does not have any rules or mandates for wearing cut-proof equipment, leaving that up to players’ discretion. Although such protocol could be added to the next collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHL Players Association.

Re: #Preds players wearing neck guards — I was told by a team spokesperson that although their players are encouraged to wear whatever gear they deem necessary for their personal safety, wearing neck guards are a player decision and the NHL can’t mandate players to wear them…

— Michael Gallagher (@MGsports_) November 3, 2023

Nashville Hockey Now

In their first back-to-back of the 2023 season, the Predators split a pair of games with the New York Rangers (4-3 loss) and Buffalo Sabres (2-1 win). There were good and bad takeaways from both games, which were highlighted in our Plus/Minus.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported over the weekend that the Predators have granted defenseman Tyson Barrie permission to seek a trade. Here are a few teams who could be interested in trading for the 32-year-old blue-liner.

Vasily Atanasov is one of the hottest young scorers in the KHL. The 21-year-old Russian has aspirations of eventually making the leap to the NHL, and the Predators have already spoken to him about coming to North America.

Central Division standings

1. Colorado Avalanche — 15-7-2, 32 points
2. Dallas Stars — 14-6-3, 31 points
3. Winnipeg Jets — 14-8-2, 30 points
4. Arizona Coyotes — 13-9-2, 28 points
5. St. Louis Blues — 12-10-1, 25 points
6. Nashville Predators — 12-12-0, 24 points
7. Minnesota Wild — 8-10-4, 20 points
8. Chicago Blackhawks — 7-16-0, 14 points

Around the NHL and National Hockey Now

– Connor Ingram leads 3 Stars of the Week (NHL.com)

– Murph’s Power 5: Plenty Of Changes At Quarter Mark (Boston Hockey Now)

– Should The Calgary Flames Acquire Enforcer Ryan Reaves From the Maple Leafs? (Calgary Hockey Now)

– Red, White, and Boom: 4 Blackhawks Make Prelim WJC Roster (Chicago Hockey Now)

– Avalanche Fall To The Kings, Go Winless On Road Trip (Colorado Hockey Now)

– Patrick Kane Won’t Be Making Red Wings Debut in Hometown (Detroit Hockey Now)

– Power Play Failures, Penguins Lose Another to Flyers, 2-1 in OT (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

– For First Time Since Pandemic, Florida Panthers Hang with their Fans (Florida Hockey Now)

– Flyers’ Cutter Gauthier to Represent USA at World Juniors (Philly Hockey Now)

– Canadiens Veterans Score, Slafkovsky Excels In Win Versus Kraken (Montreal Hockey Now)

– Devils Prospect Invited to Represent Team USA at World Juniors (NJ Hockey Now)

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