The 2025 National Hockey League (NHL) season will be remembered for a grim trend that shifted the conversation around the sport's legendary toughness. Instead of just celebrating resilience, fans, analysts, and the league itself were forced into a serious debate about player safety. The catalyst was a disturbing series of graphic injuries where players repeatedly lost teeth on the ice, turning what were once isolated incidents into a defining storyline of the year.
A Season Defined by Dental Trauma
The sight of blood on the ice and players rushing for emergency dental work became alarmingly common. These were not minor scrapes hidden by equipment but highly visible, shocking moments that dominated highlight reels and post-game discussions. The courage of the players who often returned to the game minutes later was never in doubt. However, the frequency and severity of these injuries raised pressing questions about whether the league's standards for protection and officiating were keeping pace with the game's intensity.
The incidents spanned the entire calendar, affecting stars and rookies alike, and proved that no player was immune. What follows is a look at the key moments that made dental safety a top issue in 2025.
Notable Incidents That Shook the League
The list of victims reads like a roll call from across the NHL, underscoring the widespread nature of the problem.
Alex Alexeyev of the Washington Capitals suffered one of the most severe injuries during Game 1 of the playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens. A high stick from Jake Evans shattered his mouth, resulting in the loss of three front teeth and damage to three others. After undergoing emergency dental surgery, Alexeyev returned to the series wearing a full face shield—a powerful symbol of both personal bravery and the heightened need for protection.
In a regular-season clash between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Utah, James van Riemsdyk endured a horrific injury. A high stick from Ian Cole knocked out four of his teeth and required over 30 stitches. In a display of classic hockey grit, van Riemsdyk not only returned to the game but also registered an assist, even as the incident fueled the growing safety debate.
San Jose Sharks' promising rookie Macklin Celebrini got a brutal welcome to the NHL in November. He sustained chipped and broken teeth after taking either a stick or a puck to the mouth, a harsh reminder of the league's physical demands on its youngest talents.
The trend continued into December when Columbus forward Brendan Gaunce lost a tooth mid-game after being struck by a high stick from Washington's Hendrix Lapierre. Even the preseason was not safe, as St. Louis Blues forward Jake Neighbours lost teeth after a stick from the New York Rangers' Brett Berard caught him in the face.
Demonstrating that even the sport's elite are vulnerable, Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov lost part of a tooth in March following a collision with the mask of Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.
Beyond Grit: The Rising Call for Change
The collective impact of these events forced the hockey world to look beyond mere admiration for toughness. The conversation has decisively shifted towards prevention, smarter officiating, and league responsibility. Questions are being asked with new urgency: Are the rules regarding high sticks being enforced strictly enough? Is the current protective equipment, particularly regarding the mouth and face, sufficient for the modern game?
While the culture of resilience remains a bedrock of hockey, the 2025 season ensured that it must now coexist with louder, more persistent calls for change. The goal is a future where skill and competition define the headlines, not shattered teeth. The league, its players, and its fans are now grappling with how to preserve the sport's physical essence while better safeguarding those who play it.
