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NHLPA, NHL still looking for a resolution on goalie equipment size

Washington Capitals v New York Rangers - Game Six

in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2013 in New York City.

Paul Bereswill

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.

According to several sources close to the ongoing equipment talks, the NHL Players’ Association informally approved a reduction in the overall height of goalie pads at its meetings last week after an internal survey showed strong support for change. Unfortunately, that polling – and therefore the approval – wasn’t specific enough for the NHL, leaving questions about interpretation and implementation of the new pad height restrictions, while also failing to address the League’s request for smaller kneepads.

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.”