It might be the middle of July, but National Hockey League training camp somehow doesn’t seem that far away.
And so the ongoing issue of goaltending equipment reductions has once again been brought to the forefront of discussion.
The issue was talked about by the NHLPA at its meeting last week, according to a report from Kevin Woodley of InGoal Magazine.
Here is a snippet of what Woodley reported earlier this week. Read the full version here.
The debate about reducing the size of goaltender equipment has coincided with a reduction in goal scoring throughout the league.
In June, Globe and Mail hockey reporter James Mirtle and the Globe and Mail reported that shots in the NHL post-season have mostly been on the rise over the past couple of years, but that scoring has declined.
While it appears members of the players’ union are in favor reduction in overall height of goalie pads, the goaltenders themselves have their own concerns.
“I don’t have a problem with change, as long as the safety is the main focus,” New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist told InGoal Magazine.
“You might be able to cut a few things but we are getting close to how much you can push it. Now because of the changes I’m getting hit in places where in the past I was protected.”