Well if your primary reason to buy new skates is for protection then you may be disapointed when you get hit with the new ones on and it still kills, although I'm sure different skates are stronger in different spots. I have Bauer One95's, which were the top of the line a couple years ago, and I still feel like I have broken a bone if I block a shot with the inside or out side of the boot.
Perhaps you might to consider something like this
http://www.shotblockers.com/ as an alternative?