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GMs to discuss size of goalie equipment

rinnegetty

With only five NHL teams averaging more than three goals scored per game, general managers are expected to revisit the size of goaltenders’ equipment during their upcoming meetings on March 20, reports ESPN’s Craig Custance.

“It was brought up last year and will be again,” one GM told Custance on Monday.

The equipment debate is hardly new. Goalies will argue their gear is the minimum size required to stay safe. On the other side of the discussion is the desire for more offense.

In 2005-06, the first season after the previous lockout, 16 teams averaged three goals or more. Again, that number is now five. In 2011-12, it was three.

Obviously, goalie equipment isn’t entirely (if at all) to blame for the decrease in scoring over the last few seasons, but reducing the size of the padding does offer a possible avenue towards more goals.