Goaltending equipment reduction. Do you like the new approved changes?

Question

Knee pads worn under the main pads (extending upward so when they butterfly they cover the 5 hole) that allowed goaltenders an extra 6 inches of coverage from both knees toward the 5 hole have been reduced to 21/2 inches thus opening up the 5 hole or the outside of the legs to the net if the goaltender should desire to close his legs more to protect more of 5 hole.

The clavicle protector which made the shoulders look so huge will be more form fitted and reduced so they dont rise much above the shoulders anymore, thus opening more of the top shelf.

Goalies stated in the article that it will effect are Giguere, Toskala and Luongo (not the flaps on the pads they made him close last year).. it wasnt an all including list, just ones they knew of offhand.

Answer 1

As long as they dont make any HUGE changes im fine

Answer 2

So if I get called to the show, I can't wear knee pads under my pillows anymore?

Looks like I'm still within the rules. They come up to about 2 inches above the knee.

The ones I wear are by Rollerblade + somewhere between the two pics you posted. But for christ's sake, what does Bettman want, 4 someone to break their kneecap?

Do you suggest I use black tape on my goalie stickblade jo? (have always used white)

Answer 3

I am in favor of anything that forces J.S. "Spawn of Roy" Giguere to give up his only edge on other goalies.

Garth Snow may have been the worst ever back in 96-97 though.  Those shoulder elevators were rediculous.

DC FURY - Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the U.S.

It will be on TV much more in the next 20 years.  It is fast, exciting, and the high scoring element will bring in much more viewers than hockey does.  It is expensive, but it can be played outdoors and indoors regardless of climate (don't have to pay for ice time either), unlike hockey, so I'm not sure that analogy is accurate given the sport's rapid growth, potential fanbase and marketability.

Let me also add that I don't want hockey to share the same high scores as lacrosse, otherwise the sports would be far too similar.  In my opinion, a high scoring hockey game should be 10 goals combined at most.  After that it just gets sloppy and I feel embarassed for the goaltenders.

Answer 4

That's fine nothing wrong with those changes...and the bottom line is as long as they are consistent on the changes that are made it will only effect those keepers that used gear to cheat and cover it up. Face the facts goaltending is a game of give and take, if your gear takes away part of the net that is less the shooter has of the net. I always did little things that helped my cause.

Answer 5

Personally I think they are retarded.  These are some of the best athletes in the world I promise you that after about half a season goalies will have adapted to these changes and the NHL will be right back where they were.  They've shrunk goalie gear once before and we just adapted to it, it was actually quite easy to do.  If the NHL wants to increase scoring don't put the goalies in harms way, make it so a two minute power play lasts two minutes even if the team with a man advantage scores, and disallow icing on the penalty kill.  I promise you that will vastly increase scoring, although i must say games that are decided by 9 to 6 scores don't sound very exciting.  Look at lacrosse does anyone watch that?  

Answer 6

Meh, I'll have to see it in action, to be able to determine how much I really care.  Sounds pretty minimal and fair...I am just glad they are not messing with the size of the goals.