The death of Adam Johnson shocked and horrified the hockey world last weekend after he suffered a fatal injury on the ice. Since then there has been an outpouring of love and support from across the hockey world including those who knew Adam personally. <h2>Pionk Mourns Friend</h2> One NHLer who knew Adam well is Neal Pionk. The two were close friends, with Johnson even serving as a groomsman at Pionk's wedding. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1720878105147891908'> </a></blockquote></div> The Jets announced today that several players will join Pionk as he attends Johnson's funeral tomorrow and celebration of life on Monday. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1720878423344607529'> </a></blockquote></div> Johnson was one of Pionk's closest friends. The Jets defenseman reportedly has not been able to play hockey without thinking about him since the incident. <q>The last couple of games every TV timeout I can't stop thinking about it. Every intermission it's all I think about. Yesterday I was in the penalty box that's all I was thinking about.</q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/mikemcintyrewpg/status/1720553680598974763'> </a></blockquote></div> <h2>New Era Of Safety In NHL</h2> Notably, Pionk is one of the few NHL players that has been seen wearing neck protection in a game since Johnson's tragic passing. He has been joined by a few others around the league, including but not limited to; Erik Karlsson, TJ Oshie, and Rasmus Dahlin. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/spittinchiclets/status/1720222937591009378'> </a></blockquote></div> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/Senators/status/1720857439518724327'> </a></blockquote></div> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1720132192842445136'> </a></blockquote></div> While the NHL is unlikely to make a rules change in the middle of the season, it seems that neck protectors are in the future of the NHL. We could see the league make the equipment mandatory as soon as next season if the player's association agrees to it. With so many players suddenly adding the gear after years pf not using them, it would seem that a rules change is becoming more and more likely.