Goalies feeling good in new slim, trim outfits
SAN JOSE >> As a growing number of NHL goalies join the chorus of concern over changes to their equipment, Martin Jones and Aaron Dell are knocking on wood.
Goalies are sporting a trimmer look this season after the NHL introduced a new set of equipment standards intended to increase
scoring. Instead of wearing boxy Michelin Man-like equipment, netminders are now required to patrol the goal crease in form-fitting chest protectors and slimmer arm pads.
As a result, goals are up league wide, but some NHL goalies are expressing concern over the potential for major injuries. The Sharks’ netminders are OK with the new equipment right now.
“I’ve heard some mixed reviews,” Jones said. “I’ve seen some guys pretty bruised up from it. They’ve had a different outcome with the new stuff.
“I’ve been OK, so knock on wood.”
Last month, Brayden Holtby of the Washington Capitals warned that “sooner or later someone’s going to get hurt pretty bad.” Ben Bishop of the Dallas Stars told ESPN that he’s getting more bruises from shots: “the pucks are coming 100 mph. It hurts.” James Reimer of the Florida Panthers insists that the pain is causing him to flinch in the goal crease and Marc-Andre Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights is wearing an extra shirt for additional padding.
Matt Murray of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Brian Elliott of the Philadelphia Flyers and Sergei Bobrovsky have also expressed concerns that a major injury could be imminent.
The major differences are that goalies are wearing chest protectors without any air between the padding and their bodies, taking out the cushion; the shoulder and clavicle equipment is also smaller and less square while the bicep and forearm pads are tapered. These changes came after the NHL reduced the size of legs pads in 2012-13 and forced goalies to wear more rounded pants in 2017.
Despite the shift, Jones insists that he isn’t experiencing any major differences with the new equipment, though he is wearing a throat protector in practice to give his collarbone area more protection.
Backup goalie Aaron Dell, on the other hand, is noticing less padding in the shoulder area. He’s thought about adding soft shoulder pads underneath his new equipment for additional protection.
“I’ve only had a couple of instances where I’ve gotten bruises from the new equipment. It’s been fairly rare,” Dell said. “But I can see how it could be more of an issue and I don’t think
(the new equipment) makes that much of a difference in terms of more goals.”
Both Jones and Dell said they adjusted to the new equipment fairly early in training camp. Though Jones gave up 13 goals on 80 shots in the preseason, and struggled early in the season, he isn’t correlating his .902 save percentage through nine appearances to the reduction in equipment size.
If anything Jones is supportive of the changes. He’s onboard with the critics who argued that the snowman look in the goal crease was getting out of control.
“I do agree with the league in trying to get everyone to wear equipment that fits their bodies the same way,” Jones said. “It’s tough. You’re not going to please everybody with the changes you make and
there’s obviously going to be guys who don’t like it. We’ll see where it goes.”
Right now, the changes appear to be producing the desired effect. Through 191 games, the league is averaging 3.10 goals per game, up from the 2.97-goal average its games produced last season.
Still, Jones and Dell both questioned the correlation between the increase in scoring and the new equipment. They see the spike in goals as being the product of a changing game. With an influx of young talent, the NHL continues to get faster and more skilled every year.
“We’re seeing a lot more young, skilled guys coming into the league,” Jones said.
Head coach Pete DeBoer isn’t surprised that scoring was up in the first month of the season either.
“Everybody’s a little loose still,” the Sharks coach said. “If that’s still where (scoring) is at at the 60-game mark, then maybe there is something to that.”
As goalies make their voices heard, some of the league’s top scorers are weighing in, as well. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, who won the Art Ross Trophy last year, and Taylor Hall of the New Jersey Devils, who won the Hart Trophy, both made references to goalies that are “160 pounds” looking huge in the past.
Logan Couture sees both sides of the argument, but he’s willing to err on the side of caution when it comes to goalie equipment.
“The main concern is making sure that goalies don’t get hurt,” the Sharks alternate captain said. “We need to protect them at all costs.”
Dell agrees. That’s why his biggest concern right now is the end game. He isn’t complaining about taking a few extra bruises in practice, but he questions where everything is headed.
Advancements in stick technology are allowing players to take harder, faster shots than ever before. At the same time, the league is reducing the amount of padding a goalie can wear to protect himself from those shots.
Dell is hoping the league draws a line in the sand before someone suffers a major injury.
“There are a lot of guys in the league now that can shoot 100 mph. If it hits a gap, and you take that square in the flesh, you’re talking about broken bones,” Dell said. “If we go any smaller, then we’re really flirting with danger.”