After significant delay, the NHL has decided to begin rolling out the new goalie gear. Rather than wait until next season, the NHL has decided to begin gradual rollout in mid-season, raising an eye-brow for many.

Last March at their annual meeting in Boca Raton, Florida, NHL General Managers agreed that goaltending equipment needed to become smaller, and thus initiated a plan to implement new streamlined equipment and tighter uniforms in time for the 2016-2017 season.

How can goaltending equipment get smaller and stay safe? @CoreyHirsch has the answerhttps://t.co/c0OpdRK9wz

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 18, 2016

The Original plan was to implement the new goalie equipment this past September, before the World Cup of Hockey. After much delay, it looks like the NHL has decided to do a gradual rollout, beginning in early February.

NHL has issued memo to all clubs/goalies saying all netminders must be wearing the “new” re-designed/size appropriate pants by Feb 4.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 17, 2017

Reports began to surface in August that the original goal to implement the new streamlined equipment in time for the World Cup of Hockey appears out of the question. At the time of this report, no formal agreement between the NHL and NHLPA regarding final equipment standards had been approved. Today was thee fist day Braden Holby and Philipp Grubauer could  examine and test the new pants.

Grubauer said pants are up higher, so feels like his knees are more exposed. Also wishes the league would’ve just waited until next season.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 18, 2017

Many have questioned the logic to rollout a new equipment feature in mid-season, and with little-to-no testing conducted by outside agencies.

By Jon Sorensen
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