The National Hockey League's concussion policy has been a hot-button topic since Connor McDavid was pulled at a crucial point from a game Sunday, only to be cleared to return to the eventual overtime loss for the Edmonton Oilers.

McDavid himself said he was shocked about having to undergo the testing, while teammate Patrick Maroon talked about how hockey is a "man's game."

San Jose Sharks forward Joel Ward went through the same earlier this season - pulled from a game and later cleared - but sees the inherent importance of exercising caution.

"I was upset about it because I knew I was OK," Ward said, per Paul Gackle of The Mercury News. "But we're dealing with people's lives here. It's a lot more serious than just a game."

It's a sentiment echoed by teammate and 22-year-old center Chris Tierney, who was removed from a game on Nov. 30 after being flagged by a concussion spotter.

"Guys understand that you want to have a career in this game," he said. "You don't want to risk something to go back to play in the second or third period of a regular-season game. Guys understand it could have an affect on your life after hockey."

So while the Oilers failed to pick up an extra point in Sunday's loss, the alternative of allowing McDavid to continue playing while potentially concussed could have had major ramifications for the player, team, and league in the long run.

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