I was at the game when Malarchuk got cut. At the corner to his left 4th row. In some of the video you can see me standing and looking as the camera pans away to the stands. People were fainting and puking, women and children crying and screaming....quite a scene.
Clint wasnt grasping at his throat. Amazingly he took the time to fling his blocker away from the blood. He was very aware of what had happend to him. His experiance as a youngster with his Father and slaughtering animals, he knew that once cut the artery would retract deep into the tissue. He stuck his finger up in to try and plug or pinch the cut end shut to stop the bleeding. His calm and cool action did slow the bleeding and provide the needed time. As the trainer got to his side he was fighting to stay conscious.The concensus is, had he been at the opposite end of the rink, Clint would have died there.
Clint returned to the ice the next practice. Not to play mind you but he went on the ice. Takes a while to recover from something that needs about 300 stitiches to fix... The injury didnt change him so much as some other medical issues he faced prior to and after. He is now a practicing Horse Dentist/Veterinarian. Over all his play was unaffected by the injury itself.