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NHL looking at more goalie equipment reductions for 2013-14

Kari Lehtonen, Dale Weise

Vancouver Canucks goalie Cory Schneider makes a save against the Dallas Stars during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

AP

Last week, a report surfaced claiming the NHLPA had approved the NHL’s recommendation to decrease goalie pad height for the upcoming season.

Now, it appears more reductions could be on the way.

Speaking with In Goal Magazine, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said additional equipment reductions -- specifically, measurement regulations and kneepad contouring -- will be brought before the NHLPA and possibly implemented for the start of the season.

“We have the Players’ Association commitment to going back to the goaltender group on kneepads and some of the other additions that [NHL goalie equipment czar] Kay Whitmore has in mind to do,” Daly explained. “It is an ongoing process.

“We are going to get some movement this year with respect to goaltending equipment, but it’s going to continue to be a work in progress.”

As mentioned above, the NHLPA already OKed downsizing the height of goalie pads, which would essentially create larger five holes for shooters (for a lengthy, detailed explanation, click here.)

The issue with more changes to goalie pads is timing.

Equipment manufacturers need time to make these pads and, with specifics and regulations still not set in stone, producing legal gear in time for the start of the season could prove difficult.

That said, Daly and Whitmore see it differently.

“On Kneepads, what [Whitmore] wants to do, as I understand it, is not a manufacturing issue,” Daly said. “So if we get goaltender buy-in, it is something we can actually implement for next season.”

For more on all the specifics the NHL is proposing for next season, check out the full article at In Goal.