The NHLPA is already involved. They agree to the list of medical experts and surgeons that the players get to pick from. They agreed that if a player is to go outside that list that it would then have to be agreed upon by the team who owns the rights to that player.
I would like to point out that the Sabres doctor is not some GP with no idea what he's talking about. This is an expert in his field of spinal surgery.
Meet
Dr. Andrew Cappuccino.
Dr. Andrew Cappuccino received his undergraduate education in biomedical and material science engineering at Johns Hopkins University, and medical schooling at the University of Buffalo, Dr. Cappuccino completed a residency in Orthopedic Surgery. He became Board Certified in Orthopedics, and then returned to Johns Hopkins to complete specialty training in spine surgery. Dr. Cappuccino is one of the first surgeons in the country to be certified by the American Board of Spine Surgery, and is a inaugural member of this board.
Dr. Cappuccino has also served on the medical staff of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres for more than 25 years, and in this capacity has returned professional athletes with spine injuries, back to the field. As the attending surgeon who operated on paralyzed Buffalo Bill Kevin Everett and who then coordinated his care, he was nationally recognized for Mr. Everett’s recovery.
Dr. Cappuccino has been a principle investigator on international teams of doctors who have developed artificial disc replacements for the neck and back.
More on
Dr. Cappuccino.
Dr. Cappuccino has performed more disc replacements than any other surgeon in the USA. He is internationally in demand to teach spine surgery techniques and, through his research, is dedicated to improving spinal surgery outcomes and technologies.
For those who don't know the Kevin Everett story, here it is.
The hit that left him as a quadriplegic:
The road to recovery.
This guy made it possible for Everett to walk again. This guy knows what's he's talking about. He's the guy the surgeons go to when they need surgery.
This guy is so good they named a cup of coffee after him!
In all seriousness, Dr. Cappuccino's credentials are at the top of his field. He's examined Eichel many times and has worked with him to come up with a plan to address his injury. I know he's not doing the podcast circuit, but I would put my trust in this guy.