Chicago Blackhawks: Players Most Likely to Suffer a Concussion

The concussion epidemic is unfortunately taking over the NHL, and it certainly wouldn't be good for the Chicago Blackhawks organization if one of its players suffered one of the serious head injuries.

Often you see someone suffer from a concussion because they had been skating with their head down—something hockey players are taught not to do at a young age, because, well, you can get yourself hurt—and an opposing player proceeds to check them, whether they meant to hit that high or not.

Other times we've seen some of the NHL's goons go after someone in an attempt that looks like their only intention is to put them to sleep and end their evening.

But often, those hits end more than the victim's evening.

Bryan Bickell

All too often I see Bryan Bickell skating with his head down. Sooner or later that's going to catch up with him, and he'll get sent back to last Tuesday.

Bickell needs to skate with his head up more often, otherwise he's going to get rung, similar to the way Nashville Predators' Shea Weber recently suffered a concussion.

Niklas Hjalmarsson

Niklas Hjalmarsson puts the team first when he plays hockey, but often I wish he'd have more consideration for his own well-being.

Hammer isn't afraid to throw his body around for the good of the Blackhawks, but his reckless—or fearless—style of play could come back to haunt him at some point in his career.

Patrick Kane

At 5'11", Patrick Kane is very little compared to many of the other players in the NHL, despite the muscle Kaner may have put on this offseason.

Because Kane is smaller and lower to the ice than many other players, he is more vulnerable to a hit to the head. A 6'3" defenseman that may normally lower his shoulder to hit a guy in the chest has the potential to hit Kane in the head instead.

Sure, Kane is a lot faster than many of his colleagues, but speed won't always prevent physical contact.  Just ask Marcus Kruger.

Jonathan Toews

Jonathan Toews is one of the best players in the NHL, and he can be considered one of the faces of the NHL.

That may help Toews and the Blackhawks, but there are many goons around the league that headhunt for those players to try and send a message, or swing momentum the other way.

Look at the list of the notable NHL stars who've suffered a serious concussion recently, courtesy of ESPN.

Brent Seabrook

Brent Seabrook is one of the Hawks' big, physical blueliners, and he serves out as much punishment as he takes.

Seabs is always vulnerable to take a hit—like he did from Raffi Torres in last year's Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Vancouver Canucks—because opposing players are going to try and play physical with Seabrook in order to win a puck battle.

That could end ugly for Seabs, as it did in the playoffs last season.

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