Quote:
Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef
if the guys in the 80s could handle the weight of a leather should pad so could the guys now that are in infinitely better shape
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The NHL has already mandated foam covered caps on shoulder pads for two years and foam covered caps for elbow pads for five years. I don't think adding leather (which hasn't been used in hockey pad construction, with the exception of some goalie equipment, for years)to pads will do anything to improve the situation. The mandated caps are constructed like this:
LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE FOAM
HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE FOAM
PLASTIC CAP (FOR IMPACT DISPERSION)
HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE FOAM
LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE FOAM
I honestly think that the protective pads are as safe as they can make them at this point. Hockey is a velocity sport and impacts can be violent due to that velocity. Concussions occur due to the brain striking the inside of the skull usually because of impacts at speed. Concussions can occur even when the head is not impacted. Realistically, the only way to truly have an impact (no pun intended) on concussions is to reduce the speed of the game and we all know that is never going to happen.