Little demand for neck guards

Even a neck guard may not have prevented Richard Zednik's near-fatal injury on Sunday.

Just ask Jassen Cullimore, whose jersey was splattered with blood as he helped his Florida Panthers teammate off the stained ice.

Cullimore has come close to having his neck cut open -- and the veteran defenseman has the scars to prove it. But don't expect him, his teammates or other NHL players to start wearing neck guards because of Zednik's accident. Like helmet cages, neck guards are something worn by junior and amateur players, not pros.

"I've gotten skates up there," Cullimore said. "It's just something that happens.

"You could wear a whole armor suit out there, but you're still going to have broken bones and stuff like that."

Zednik was cut during the third period Sunday in Buffalo when Panther captain Olli Jokinen was upended and his skate swung up, hitting Zednik in the right side of the neck, nearly severing his carotid artery. He underwent emergency surgery and required five units of blood, and is recovering in a hospital.

The accident happened almost 20 years after Buffalo Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk severed his jugular vein when an opposing player's skate clipped him. He also recovered.

A USA Hockey study on neck guards commissioned before Zednik's injury is expected to be finished this summer.

The NHL said there has not been any discussion of mandating neck guards.

PRODUCER POISED TO BUY LIGHTNING: The Tampa Bay Lightning, owned by Michigan-based Palace Sports & Entertainment since 1999, said Wednesday that it has been sold to OK Hockey LLC, a group controlled by Los Angeles TV and movie producer Oren Koules.

The NHL still has to approve this deal, which is expected to be completed in 3 1/2 months.

BRIEFLY: The Florida Panthers were without flu-stricken center Stephen Weiss on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. Rookie left wing Stefan Meyer was called up from Rochester to replace Weiss.

* The Columbus Blue Jackets activated left wing Fredrik Modin off injured reserve and assigned defenseman Marc Methot to their American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse on Wednesday. Modin has missed 47 games because of broken bones in his back and, most recently, a muscle tear in a leg.