I don't know what could really be done to address this. In high-speed contact sports like hockey, serious injuries of this sort are always a risk, albeit a remote one. It comes with the territory, so to speak.
One thing I remember growing up was there was a class or series of on ice sessions that taught everyone there on how to properly deliver a body check and how to take a hit. First thing you learn is if you are going to get hit, get against the boards. 9/10 times you won't get hurt. The moment you're even a foot away from the boards, you're vulnerable and risk injury. I know for a fact that I wasn't taught to engage a player before getting to the boards. Maybe this is a new teaching or it is just people being scared to be hit (and not knowing any better), but I see this play a lot now in the NHL. In this case, clearly, it isn't a wise decision.