NHL general managers gathered in Toronto this week for a meeting during which various issues such as potential changes in overtime structure were discussed. One of the other big topics of conversation would have been cut-resistant protective gear.
Demand for this equipment has skyrocketed in recent weeks after the Tragic death of former NHL player Adam Johnson due to a skate blade cut at the neck. Now that demand is high, general managers want to make sure their players are informed of their options.
“I think the conversation is about what we can do, what’s out there, the different options for players and the need to communicate well with our players to make sure they understand what’s out there,” the general manager said. of the Buffalo Sabres, Kevyn Adams. » said Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com. “There is certainly an emergency. The technology is better and player safety is essential.
One of the central problems in the past with cut-resistant hockey equipment was that players found it uncomfortable to wear, made them too hot or felt too heavy. General managers and league officials want to make sure players know technology has evolved over time.
And there’s a surplus of companies with proposals on the desk of Rod Pasma, the NHL’s vice president of hockey operations, awaiting approval for use in the league.
“It varies by category,” Pasma said. “In the wrist I think there are more than 10, in the base layer there are more, in the sock of the foot there are more than 12, in the neck we have let’s arrive. We haven’t had many, but as it stands, I think there are as many as eight companies on my desk waiting to be licensed. And out of those eight (companies), there are probably 12 to 14 options to carry if (players) choose.
There is a great example of one of these companies’ products right on the Washington Capitals roster. Forward TJ Oshie wore a protective turtleneck from his own brand Warroad during matches this season And some of his Capitals teammates are also testing the waters.
#ALL CAPS TJ Oshie is back in the neck guard, hasn’t he been wearing it for 2 years? games I think pic.twitter.com/RiMtUGyQFn
– Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) November 15, 2023
Cut-resistant socks and wrist guards have become mandatory this season in the two North American professional leagues under the NHL, the AHL and ECHL. Both of these leagues have rosters filled with players who are draft picks and NHL team prospects.
With more future NHL players wearing this gear on a regular basis, we hope it will become more popular and just plain regular among players.
“I know we put an emphasis during development camp on making everyone cut-resistant and putting it in the minors and making sure that when our drafted players come back, we have them supplied and educated,” said Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill. Armstrong said. “It’s kind of a reproduction so that when they get to the NHL, they’ll wear it.”
Aside from cut-resistant equipment and overtime rule changes, general managers also discussed the possibility of making the NHL Draft “decentralized” in the future, like the NFL Draft, and to extend the cross-checking rules to be applied during stick fights in front of the field.
Title photo: Alan Dobbins/MRNB
