Injuries are piling up in the NHL preseason, sparking debates about whether changes are needed.
Several top players have been sidelined due to injuries during exhibition matches this fall. The Montreal Canadiens faced a tough blow when Patrik Laine and David Reinbacher both suffered knee injuries in a 2-1 defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 23. Meanwhile, Drew Doughty from the Los Angeles Kings is expected to be out for months after injuring his ankle in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights on September 25. Macklin Celebrini, the latest first overall pick, also left a San Jose Sharks match with an injury and is now listed as day-to-day.
The list of injured players keeps growing with Ottawa Senators’ stars Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle, along with New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, joining those who are hurting. This situation has led many to question if there should be fewer preseason games. Right now, teams play at least six games but can go up to eight. Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic shared that talks between the NHL and NHLPA have started about possibly cutting down these games to four.
Header Text: Preseason Changes Under Discussion
Fans might think it’s time for a change because too many players are getting hurt before the real action begins. It’s like watching your favorite movie get spoiled before it even starts! But some might argue that these games help teams get ready for the season ahead.
So what do you think? Should they cut back on these preseason matches or keep things as they are?
