Summary

After assessing NHL players from 2000 to 2020, we found no significant differences in performance across positions, defenders return to play sooner, goalies take longer to recover, and centers show the greatest performance improvement.

Abstract

Introduction

Shoulder injuries are especially common in ice hockey athletes, where repetitive microtrauma weakens the rotator cuff and increases injury risk. Compared to other professional athletes, National Hockey League (NHL) players experience significant differences in performance metrics and return-to-play (RTP) times following shoulder surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of RTP and level of performance in NHL players following shoulder surgery from 2000 to 2020.

Methods

Between October and December 2023, data from NHL players who underwent shoulder surgery between the 2000 and 2020 NHL seasons was collected from prosportstransactions.com, a public website with player performance statistics. NHL players (N = 1,047) with shoulder or upper body injuries requiring surgical management were initially selected for analysis. Performance metrics were assessed in seasons both before and after surgery. Analysis included evaluation of players’ positions and performance metrics such as shots on goal (SOG), time-on-ice (TOI), saves (SV), and goals against average (GAA). Non-parametric ANOVA tests were conducted to detect significant differences in performance metrics, followed by post-hoc tests for specific-group comparisons.

Results

A total of 120 players were included in this study. The average RTP time post-surgery for NHL players that met the inclusion criteria (N = 120) was 235 days. Defenders had significantly shorter RTP time compared to players in other positions (203 days; P = 0.0008), whereas goalies had a significantly longer RTP time (437 days; P = 0.0081). Comparing pre- and post-injury seasons, an increase in games played was observed in all positions except for goalies and players in multiple positions. Centers showed a 23.6% improvement in games played post-surgery (P < 0.05), with significant increase in games played between the pre-injury season and the second season post-surgery. Despite variations in metrics like SOG and TOI, no statistically significant differences were found among positions.

Conclusion

After investigating the impact of shoulder surgery on NHL players’ performance and RTP times, no significant differences in performance metrics and RTP times, and no association between players’ positions and their performance post-surgery were found. Defenders demonstrated early RTP times, while goalies required longer RTP. Centers demonstrated the greatest improvement in games played per season. Future research should focus on the implications of post-operative rehabilitation methods, as investigating the impact of such post-operative procedures could provide insights for providers to make appropriate recovery plans for players after they undergo surgery.