End the NHL Preseason: How Many More Stars Must Fall Before the League Wakes Up?

Recent injuries to key players like David Reinbacher, Patrik Laine, Drew Doughty, and now top draft pick Macklin Celebrini during the NHL preseason have reignited debate about the necessity of such an extended schedule. The risk of established players getting injured in games against less experienced or more reckless opponents raises important questions about player safety. Celebrini’s collision into the boards during a meaningless exhibition game highlights just how quickly things can go wrong. Despite attempting to continue playing, he was forced to leave the game, and the severity of his injury is still unclear. This comes on the heels of injuries to Laine and Doughty, whose teams now face serious challenges heading into the regular season due to their prolonged absences.

Preseason Risks Outweigh the Benefits

The NHL's current format, mandating teams play six to eight preseason games with a minimum number of veterans, adds unnecessary risk. While these games might help lower-tier players showcase their skills, they also expose seasoned athletes to injury in a setting that contributes little to their readiness for the main season. Given the minimal roster changes year-over-year in the NHL, the purpose of such a long preseason becomes increasingly questionable.

For players like Doughty, who are critical to their team’s playoff hopes, every additional game increases the chance of an injury that could derail an entire season. The same applies to Montreal’s reliance on Laine, whose knee injury came from a reckless preseason play. Now, with Celebrini’s injury adding to the growing list of preseason casualties, it’s becoming harder to justify the risks these exhibition games pose. Earlier this week, the NHL's Board of Governors discussed a proposal to limit the number of preseason games to just four per team—a move that now seems more reasonable than ever.

Pressure Mounts for Preseason Reform

As the league continues to profit from these games, it's worth considering whether the financial benefit outweighs the long-term damage to player health and team success. Shortening the schedule or adjusting matchups to ensure NHL-caliber players aren’t facing off against minor league or junior prospects could prevent many of these unnecessary injuries. Ultimately, a more focused approach to the preseason could balance the need for roster evaluation with the safety and longevity of the league’s top talents, ensuring that stars like Celebrini, Laine, and Doughty are protected before the real season even begins.

If there's a fear that fewer preseason games might make it harder for players from the lower ranks to break into the teams, why not just play preseason games with these players? At least if the teams themselves don't want to risk the health of their key players. It's clear that some form of change will need to happen. The list of injured players is already long, and there's still a week left of the preseason.