Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson talked about his own team, then skate blade safety in light of fatal cut to former NHLer Adam Johnson in England and serious cut to Boston forward Jakub Lauko in Chicago last week.

Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson reacted to the death of Adam Johnson, a former NHL player who succumbed after his neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England on Saturday. 

The 29-year-old Johnson, from Hibbing, Minnesota, appeared in 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019 and 2020. He was playing for the Nottingham Panthers in a Challenge Cup game against the Sheffield Steelers when he suffered cut after a collision during the second period of the Elite Ice Hockey League game at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.

Here's were Richardson's thoughts following his team's practice in Tempe, Arizona on Sunday. The Blackhawks meet the Coyotes on Monday.

Richardson, a rugged NHL defenseman for 21 years, gave a callout to Washington forward T.J. Oshie for launching Warroad Hockey, https://warroad.com/ a firm that produces a cut-resistant line of base layer hockey garments and guards. But he acknowledged there will always be unavoidable risks in playing the sport, especially at higher, faster levels.

Close to Home: Bruin Lauko Cut at United Center

Boston forward Jakub Lauko was seriously cut by a skate blade of Chicago center Jason Dickinson on Tuesday in the Bruins 3-0 win at the United Center. The steel runner narrowly missed Lauko's left eye in routine pile-up along the boards, but put a deep cut in the 23-year-old's face.

Here's a link to Lauko's photo of himself. https://x.com/jakub_lauko/status/1717953216346808455?s=20