When Montador died in mid-February, Carcillo attended the funeral in Ontario and went right back to work, trying to keep his lineup spot on a championship-contending club.

But the more he dwelled on Montador’s death following years of post-concussion symptoms, Carcillo became determined to shine a public light on the dark mental places that athletes sometimes must visit. He also decided someone needed to advocate for new support structures for players on their way out of hockey.

Carcillo put his thoughts on video for The Players’ Tribune. His heartfelt, emotional plea for community in a cutthroat business has attracted admiration around the sports world.

”I was obviously apprehensive about it, because I knew how hard it was going to be,” Carcillo said. ”But after I did it, it was probably the best therapy I ever did in the grieving process and letting go a little bit. It kind of felt like Steve was talking through me. It was a surreal kind of experience.”

Carcillo hasn’t played for the Blackhawks since March 25, and he isn’t likely to play in the Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay. He incurred the second recorded concussion of his career late in the season.

Yet the grinding 30-year-old forward feels he has accomplished some of his greatest work in hockey over the past few weeks simply by opening a dialogue about vulnerability and confusion for players who leave the game, sometimes bearing injuries that don’t heal quickly.

”It not only helped me, but it helped a lot of other guys, and I think that’s the best thing,” said Carcillo, who has heard from dozens of current and former players in several sports who echoed his concerns and hopes. You’re doing something for the greater good, and it gets you out of your own head, and it helps you to really have compassion. Helps you move forward in the process.”

Montador was 35 years old when he was found dead in his home. He became close with Carcillo back in 2011, providing counsel and support as Carcillo overcame painkiller abuse and began living a sober life.

Montador struggled with his own life after concussions hastened his retirement months later. Carcillo spoke to him weekly, but he also saw signs of trouble – Montador’s extra sets of keys for the same lock, or the days Montador spent at home with the blinds drawn when his symptoms became too painful.

Carcillo wished he had said more. So he decided to say it first this time, and in a public forum.

”To be able to open up to another player, it’s hard to do,” Carcillo said. ”Because, yeah, we see each other every day, and we have that relationship, but to be able to talk about something that you’re going through, it’s almost like you don’t want to, because you don’t want to distract him. You don’t want to bring him down while you’re in the run.”

Montador’s death was blamed on natural causes, though his autopsy revealed chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Before the Stanley Cup Final opener, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman repeated the league’s contention that a link between concussions and CTE hasn’t been established, a position ridiculed by some doctors and brain trauma experts.

The NHL is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging that the league hasn’t handled brain injuries properly for its players. Bettman and the owners believe they’ve been proactive in brain health issues for nearly 20 years, becoming the first league to establish concussion diagnosis protocols, baseline testing and restrictions on athletes’ return to play. The players involved in the lawsuit argue that the league hasn’t done nearly enough.

Carcillo isn’t interested wading into the legal debate on concussions and brain injury. He speaks warmly of Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Brent Seabrook and others who kept him close while he couldn’t play.

Carcillo simply wants the NHL Players’ Association and the league to help provide resources for players on their way out of hockey with little idea what to do next, or how to stay healthy. Carcillo has begun the process of establishing a nonprofit organization with the goal of giving that direction.

It will be called Chapter 5. Montador wore the number in Chicago during their one season together.

”If (Montador) had help in some of those avenues, I really do think he’d still be here,” Carcillo said. ”It would have taken some weight off his shoulders. He was such a deep guy. He just didn’t know what he wanted to do next. He knew he wanted to do something big. Being a radio analyst wasn’t really going to cut it, and he was just searching for that.”

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Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo will also play Friday night, according to Quenneville. Carcillo has not played since suffering a lower-body injury in the season opener against the Los Angeles Kings on Jan. 19.

Hossa practiced with the team for the second consecutive day Friday since taking the hit from Hansen on Tuesday. Hossa said Friday he passed the team’s protocol for head injuries.

“I should be ready to go,” Hossa said after Friday’s morning skate at the United Center. “I passed the test on the computer, so I should be fine. I feel good otherwise. If I had a little doubt, I wouldn’t go. I wouldn’t play. I wouldn’t practice. Everything is cleared.”

Hansen said he was going for the puck Tuesday at the United Center when his left forearm connected with the back of Hossa’s head early in the third period. Hossa was on the ice face-first for a few minutes before departing to the locker room under his own power. He did not return to the game.

Hossa said he felt shaky after the hit, but he said he did not suffer a concussion. Hansen was suspended one game on Wednesday.

Hossa suffered a severe head injury last season when the Phoenix Coyotes’ Raffi Torres launched himself into Hossa during their first-round playoff series. Hossa was taken off the ice on a stretcher. He did not return for the team’s final three games and was not cleared until early December.

Quenneville said Friday the Blackhawks made sure Hossa was comfortable with playing again right away.

“That’s the first step, I know he’s got to make sure he’s comfortable and we’re comfortable with him playing,” Quenneville said. “We always look at the history, and there’s some hurdles and tests you got to make sure you face and pass. Organizationally, he’s ready to go, and he’s clear.”

Hossa had two goals before being knocked out of Tuesday’s game. He is second on the Blackhawks with eight goals and third with 14 points.

Carcillo had to be helped off the ice after he collided with Kings defenseman Drew Doughty against the boards on Jan. 19. It was Carcillo’s first game since tearing the ACL in his left knee against the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 2, 2012. He required season-ending surgery last season. The latest injury to Carcillo was to his right knee, a source told ESPNChicago.com, and did not require surgery.

Quenneville said he expected Carcillo to continue to play a physical style of hockey and not be concerned about the back-to-back injuries.

“I think the way he plays, the way he has to play, we want to make sure he doesn’t have that thought in the way he approaches the game or goes into shifts,” Quenneville said. “He’s got to play one way, and I think that’s his style. We expect him to do that. I don’t foresee he would have any apprehensions in how he has to play.”

Carcillo played on the team’s first line along with Marian Hossa and Jonathan in the season opener. Quenneville said he expected to use Carcillo on the fourth line with Marcus Kruger and Michael Frolik on Friday.

Carcillo was excited to play again after all he’s been through the past few seasons.

“The last two years have been a tough road for sure,” Carcillo said. “But dealing with the injury last year certainly helped the early onset of this injury. It’s a bit of a shot to your pride because you want to be healthy and you want to be out with the guys. They have been playing so well. It’s a privilege to be able to come here and play this game.”

The 28-year-old Carcillo was signed by the Blackhawks as a free agent in July of 2011. He signed a two-year contract extension in March of 2012. He has 38 goals and 47 assists in 311 career NHL games.

Chicago will try to set a record Friday by opening the season with 17 consecutive games with at least one point.

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