Following the tragic passing of Adam Johnson, several teams and leagues have made neck protection mandatory, and while the NHL can't do that until they get approval from the NHLPA, players are certainly encouraged to add that to their uniform whenever possible.
Unsurprisingly, NHL players have taken the lead on this situation, with four Winnipeg Jets showing up to their recent practice rocking new neck protective equipment.
We've also seen this from the Boston Bruins AHL team, while Pittsburgh, Carolina and others have began making it mandatory for their ECHL and AHL teams, and now, with NHL players getting on board, it's a good sign.
Ultimately, the NHL can't mandate anything until the NHLPA agrees, and it's tough to see whether or not that will happen, but if players continue to do this on their own, it's a good way to make hockey safer for all.