Players reportedly not happy with current post-career health coverage
TSN's Rick Westhead has certainly made a name for himself as an investigative reporter who does not shy away from the stories that nobody else wants to tell.
On Monday, Westhead shared some rather concerning news on Twitter surrounding the long-term health of NHL hockey players, touching on the fact that the NHL's current post-career health coverage, as it stands, is often insufficient.
Westhead revealed the findings of a Texas-based orthopaedic surgeon, who, during a court deposition, claimed that some NHLers as young as their mid-20's have "a functional spine of somebody who is in their 70s or 80s" due to something called "degenerative disc disease".
No players were named, but Westhead did confirm that many players from around the league are very much interested in the idea of the NHLPA and Alumni pushing for a better and more comprehensive post-career healthcare package.
It's no secret what players put their bodies through over the course of their careers. From strength and conditioning training to the rigors of an 82-game season, to battling hard in the playoffs and sacrificing their bodies day-in and day-out.
It seems like a reasonable request from players who break themselves for the benefit of the league wanting to be taken care of after it's all said and done.
|
YESTERDAY
JUNE 6, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Mitch Marner | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Tomas Hertl | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jordan Staal | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Shea Theodore | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sebastian Aho | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Brayden McNabb | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Taylor Hall | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Martinook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Andrei Svechnikov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jackson Blake | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Brett Howden | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Seth Jarvis | - | 1 | 1 | |
| William Karlsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Eric Robinson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jaccob Slavin | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Logan Stankoven | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Frederik Andersen | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Barbashev | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||