The NHL is forcing goalies to reduce the length of their leg pads by about 2 inches, and the hope is the small reduction will have a big impact on increasing league scoring numbers.
"I'm trying to get used to it," New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist said. "It's definitely a big difference."
The size of goalie equipment has been a hot-button topic for several years around the NHL, and with goal scoring numbers continuing to decline, the league decided to act this season. The rules change was made with the blessing of the board of governors, general managers, competition committee and NHL Players' Association.
"We (believed) almost unanimously that goaltenders are better at their position than ever before and that the equipment has been enhanced so much that it has given them an unfair advantage," Nashville Predators general manager David Poile said.
Under the revised rule, a goalie's leg pads can go no higher on his leg than 45% of the distance between the center of his knee and his pelvis. Previously, the length limit was 55%. That means roughly a 2-inch change for many goalies, although it is less for goalies who were not already going to the limit.
The expectation is the new standards will open up the "five hole," the area between the goalie's pads, because there will be less pad to cover that area.
"You are going to see more net, so it will help," New York Islanders captain John Tavares said.
Tavares said he thought the new standard would open room on each side of the goalie because netminders would have to change how they covered the five hole.
"I think it all depends on how you choose to close your five hole," Lundqvist said. "If you are closing with your knees instead of your pads, it won't affect you very much."
Lundqvist has been working out with his new pads. "I feel a little quicker, so that's a good thing," he said. "But I feel like I'm covering less area."
Goaltenders also will have to deal this season with a net that is 4 inches shallower, leading to the possibility of quicker wraparounds.
No one wants to predict how big of an impact the pad changes will have on scoring numbers.
"I think it's going to help a little bit, but I don't know how to quantify it," said Poile, who added he hoped this was just the first step in reducing the size of equipment.
Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard said he didn't notice any difference when he put on his new pads. But he already had shifted back to shorter pads because the bigger ones didn't allow him to be as active as he liked in the crease.
"For the guys who use the big stuff, it might be an adjustment," Howard said.
Lundqvist said the NHL changed pad regulations in 2003-04 and goalies expected they would need time to adjust. He recalled that everyone adapted quickly, and he said that could happen again this season.
Said Rangers teammate Derek Stepan: "A lot of times when you're looking up to shoot, the goalie is taking up a lot of the net. I don't think shortening the pads is going to change anything. You're still going to be looking at not very much of the net."
What else is new this season
-Lower salary cap: It dropped from $70.2 million to $64.3 million, leaving some midrange free agents sitting on the sideline as training camps opened.
-Playoff format: The playoffs will be division-based for the first time since 1993. The top three teams in each division make the playoffs, along with two wild-card teams that have the next-best records in each conference. It's possible five teams from one division could make the playoffs. The division winner with the most points faces the wild-card team with the least points, and the division winner with the second-most points faces the wild-card team with the second-fewest points. The second-seeded team faces the third-seeded team in its division. The winners of each series play each other, still within the division, and the winner of those series play in the conference final.
-Hybrid icing: It's being tested in preseason to prevent crashes into the boards. The race to the puck on an icing call will be to the faceoff dot. If a defenseman gets there first, the play is blown dead. If it's up in the air, play continues.
-New penalties: A minor penalty will be given for having a jersey tucked in or taking off a helmet before a fight.
-Schedule matrix: Each team will face every other team at least once home and away.
How it works:
Western Conference: Five games each vs. five teams in the division and four games vs. the other division opponent. Three games vs. teams in the other division in the conference. Two games each vs. teams in the other conference.
Eastern Conference: Five games each vs. two teams in the division and four games vs. the other division opponents. Three games vs. teams in the other division in the conference. Two games each vs. teams in the other conference.
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