NHL shrinks goalie pads again

The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association have come to terms on a joint agreement to alter regulations on the size of goaltender equipment. An NHL spokesperson confirmed to SB Nation that the rule change will specifically focus on the height of leg pads and will be determined based upon the distance between the top of the knee and waist.

The size of a goaltender’s pads will be directly proportionate to the size of the player. This will prevent a 6’4 goaltender from having the same sized leg pads as a 6’6 goaltender. Specific details were not immediately available at the time of this writing, but the reduction rate was described as being somewhere between 10-15 percent.

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.

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.