Neck guards are not mandatory in the NHL but there's a growing movement to make protection around the neck mandatory.

It was Nov. 12 when Pontus Holmberg was forechecking to support his Toronto Maple Leafs teammate Ryan Reaves along the corner boards when his life flashed before his eyes.

As Reaves and Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven tangled along the boards, Reaves's skate slid upward, grazing Holmberg's collarbone.

"It's still red," Holmberg told The Hockey News following practice on Friday to reveal marks and small cut..

Since that game, Holmberg has worn a neck guard in every Leafs game. He considers himself fortunate, as the incident could have been much worse.

"It was scary. I didn't know how bad it was at the time," Holmberg said, relieved that the cut he felt turned out to be just a superficial wound.

The incident adds to the ongoing conversation around neck protection in hockey, which has intensified following the tragic death of Adam Johnson in October 2023. Johnson, a professional hockey player, died after a skate blade cut his neck during a game—a moment that shocked the hockey world and renewed urgency in discussions about player safety and protective equipment.

Since Johnson's death, various hockey organizations have introduced neck guard mandates. The AHL implemented a rule requiring them for the 2024-25 season, and discussions are ongoing at other levels of the sport.

Several Maple Leafs, past and present, have experimented with neck guards in light of recent events. At the first Leafs practice following Holmberg's close call, William Nylander tried wearing a neck guard, though he hasn’t used it in games. Some players have tried different fits in practice but have yet to use it in games 

Holmberg actually prefers to use it in games rather than practice.

In a game, you don't even think it's on," he explained. "In practice, you're not in that mind, so you notice it more."

Simon Benoit still wears a neck guard this season. Fraser Minten debuted his neck guard this week during a Leafs game. Minten told TSN’s Chris Johnston that he started using neck protection when he returned to junior hockey last season in anticipation of playing in the AHL, where it's now mandatory.

The NHL and NHLPA have recently met to discuss potential updates to equipment rules as part of negotiations for the next collective bargaining agreement, which is set to expire after the 2025-26 season. Though any enforcement of new equipment regulations is tied to the CBA, there’s a strong likelihood that neck protection could be addressed sooner rather than later.

For Holmberg, his decision is already made. He plans to wear a neck guard for the rest of his career and is working on finding the perfect fit.

"There was a neck guard I wore in Sweden that I really liked, and I'm waiting for it to arrive."