The biggest development from this year’s NHL competition committee was the implementation of mandatory visors for all future players. However, another component to the meeting was an emphasis on decreasing the size of goaltender equipment.
Henrik Lundqvist tweets picture of new goalie pads, NHL apparently approves rule change
The NHL has apparently passed a motion to decrease the height of goaltender equipment.
Alex Trautwig
The committee -- which was composed of NHL executives, management and players -- agreed to revisit the topic at a later date with the intention of developing a subcommittee to thoroughly analyze the matter. Apparently, the subcommittee has already held a meeting and an agreement has been reached to reduce the size of pads.
To my knowledge, neither the NHL or NHLPA has formally released a statement announcing this agreement. However, New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist tweeted a picture of his newer, shorter goalie pads on Tuesday morning.
Lundqvist writes that his pads are shorter because of “new league rules.” So, that probably means the motion passed.
Based upon previous reports, the league was interested in decreasing the size of goalie equipment by 10 percent. Lundqvist didn’t supply a figure in regard to his alterations, but the pads are visibly shorter than the ones from last year. It also appears as though the toe of the pad is where the primary change occurred.
Regardless of specifics, it will be an interesting dynamic to track this season. I’m not a goalie, but I would assume that gap control with the five-hole might become more vulnerable with decreased height in the pads.
Goaltender brethren, please feel free to use the comments section to shine some light on this change.
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