After Freaky Accident Led to Demise of 29YO NHL Star, Charles Barkley Poses Crucial Question to Hall of Famer That Could Save Lives

The last week was nothing short of a nightmare for hockey fans. The NHL fans had one of the most horrific experiences as a 29-year-old star passed away in a tragic turn of events. Since then, there has been a lot of uproar in the media, by the fans, and the pundits. Most of these conversations are about the safety issues in the sport. Now, the basketball legends are also taking a stance.

Recently, the basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley voiced his opinions on the tragedy. Shook by the incident, Barkley contemplated if this could have been avoided. The NBA veteran was in conversation with a hockey Hall of Famer and the two discussed measures that can potentially save lives.

Charles Barkley talks about the recent demise of Adam Johnson

The world of sports is unpredictable. However, even in one’s worst possible imagination, no one thinks about death while taking center stage. While this is the right outlook to have, nothing here is guaranteed. Adam Johnson, 29, tragically passed away when the Nottingham Panthers were playing the Sheffield Steelers. It was reported that his neck was slit by another player’s skate blades. The medical staff tried their best to revive him, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Since the tragedy, an arrest has been made of an individual for manslaughter. The police did not disclose the name of the person accused on the matter. The tragedy has raised questions about the amount of safety in the league. Recently, NHL veteran Henrik Lundqvist was on The Steam Room Podcast with Barkley and Ernie Johnson. Lundqvist was asked about his opinion on the unfortunate incident that took place. He said that the whole incident “Made me feel very uncomfortable” and that he still doesn’t have the right words to describe what happened.

While the NHL veteran was still in shock, Barkley brought up the question of safety in the league.

Charles Barkley’s take on safety

While it is fun for fans to watch a game and admire the athletes for their heroics, we often tend to ignore the amount of sacrifice and risk they take. Wearing neck guards is not mandatory in the NHL, despite the frequency of neck injuries. The most common response to wearing a neck guard is that it may restrict the free movement of the athletes. Whatever the case might be, nothing is worth risking your life.

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Barkley asked Lundqvist, “Do you think it [wearing neck guards] should be mandatory?” He took a second to reflect and said, “I think so. Why not? “. Lundqvist also said that if the players start to include neck guards as part of their kit, soon they will be used to it and feel no restriction.

Do you think this is a possible way out of such harrowing injuries? Comment and let us know below.

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