Glenn Hall: Make goalie equipment smaller

[habernac]

and other great stuff from Mr Goalie:

https://www.nhl.com/news/glenn-hall-...?tid=277548856

It kind of bothers me today to see the equipment they're using. It's not for protection, but rather for stopping the puck. The goalie shouldn't have an advantage. I used to glove as many pucks as I could because it didn't hurt as much.

[Coach]

I agree. There's no reason why a goalie has to be much bulkier than a regular player.

[FlamesAddiction]

Personally, I wouldn't want scoring much higher than it already is.

I don't like that some goalies have advantages over other goalies because they push the boundaries as much as possible with equipment size, but overall I don't mind if some of the design is for puck stopping and not just protection.

[Envitro]

Make goalie equipment proportional to the goalie's physical dimensions and problem solved. I don't play in the NHL but I wouldn't want my chest and arm protector to be any smaller. I wear one appropriate to my size but I still get some stingers occasionally (black and blue bruises for weeks)... And I'm not facing NHL shots...

[Harry Lime]

Somehow 'positionally sound' has become more of a goaltending hallmark than 'athletically capable'. I'm extremely curious if some of the highly paid goalies are going to be exposed when simply standing in front of the direction of a shot is no longer enough.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Envitro

Make goalie equipment proportional to the goalie's physical dimensions and problem solved. I don't play in the NHL but I wouldn't want my chest and arm protector to be any smaller. I wear one appropriate to my size but I still get some stingers occasionally (black and blue bruises for weeks)... And I'm not facing NHL shots...

But does smaller equipment have to have less protection? A bullet proof vest isn't as bulky as a goalie's chest protector.

Making the gear more compact does not necessarily take away protection. In fact, I think if designed properly (with shifting plates like a suit of armour) it could provide more protection. Particularly on the back (of arms, legs, and chest) as it could be more fitted and actually wrap their appendages.

Expense shouldn't be an issue. Get some military-grade stuff to protect these guys. Doesn't mean it has to be huge.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by habernac

and other great stuff from Mr Goalie:

https://www.nhl.com/news/glenn-hall-...?tid=277548856

It kind of bothers me today to see the equipment they're using. It's not for protection, but rather for stopping the puck. The goalie shouldn't have an advantage. I used to glove as many pucks as I could because it didn't hurt as much.

My son met him 2 years ago at a the Tourney in Stoney Plain.

He sat and signed autographs for anyone and everyone. Chatted up my boy a bit when he found out he was a goalie as well.

[Finger Cookin]

Isn't the size of goalie equipment already being reduced? Next, Mr. Hall will suggest that Las Vegas should be the next expansion city. And that the NHL and NHLPA should reinstitute the World Cup of Hockey.

[GioforPM]

Glen Hall: Goalies should throw up before every game.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Isn't the size of goalie equipment already being reduced? Next, Mr. Hall will suggest that Las Vegas should be the next expansion city. And that the NHL and NHLPA should reinstitute the World Cup of Hockey.

They've been saying that for a few years and not much has really happened so I'll believe it when it's done.

oh yeah, show a little respect

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by MattyC

But does smaller equipment have to have less protection? A bullet proof vest isn't as bulky as a goalie's chest protector.

Making the gear more compact does not necessarily take away protection. In fact, I think if designed properly (with shifting plates like a suit of armour) it could provide more protection. Particularly on the back (of arms, legs, and chest) as it could be more fitted and actually wrap their appendages.

Expense shouldn't be an issue. Get some military-grade stuff to protect these guys. Doesn't mean it has to be huge.

Yes.

And if they figure out the way to wrap appendages they can adapt for skaters and give some to Bouma

I understand that the new style of shot blocking where you turn sideways, kneel and try to cover as much area as possible works, and they can get back in the play quicker than if they slide old school style, but it seems to me a lot of these guys end up hurt as a result of this too often

Also Glenn Hall is great. I understand that he asked Bobby Orr if that was the only goal he scored, or something like that.

[Envitro]

Originally Posted by MattyC

But does smaller equipment have to have less protection? A bullet proof vest isn't as bulky as a goalie's chest protector.

Making the gear more compact does not necessarily take away protection. In fact, I think if designed properly (with shifting plates like a suit of armour) it could provide more protection. Particularly on the back (of arms, legs, and chest) as it could be more fitted and actually wrap their appendages.

Expense shouldn't be an issue. Get some military-grade stuff to protect these guys. Doesn't mean it has to be huge.

I agree that better materials COULD be used, maybe..
You have to balance better protection with less bulk, and weight considerations.

On your other point, I don't believe there is a requirement to protect the back at all. If your back is facing the play or the shooter you're kind of doing it wrong...

Wraparound protection is not just unnecessary but it also adds weight and wouldn't even be possible with today's tech. The bulky panels of the C&A don't just provide with blocking area, they also protect vital joints from the force of the impact.

There are good ways to reduce the size of the equipment without actually altering the equipment too much (there's a reason why it looks and behaves the way it does right now).

Force the goalies to wear appropriately sized equipment and that problem will mostly be solved. A guy that's a beanpole like Ryan Miller shouldn't be wearing the same sized equipment as say Ray Emery, who probably has a good 2" and 25lbs on him.

There are other smaller changes that can be tweaked but overall I would say that pants are the biggest items that can be sized down and slightly slimmed down.

[corporatejay]

I have no problem with the game right now. Pretty much the best it's been in a long time. The goalie equipment doesn't bother me at all.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Envitro

I agree that better materials COULD be used, maybe..
You have to balance better protection with less bulk, and weight considerations.

On your other point, I don't believe there is a requirement to protect the back at all. If your back is facing the play or the shooter you're kind of doing it wrong...

Wraparound protection is not just unnecessary but it also adds weight and wouldn't even be possible with today's tech. The bulky panels of the C&A don't just provide with blocking area, they also protect vital joints from the force of the impact.

There are good ways to reduce the size of the equipment without actually altering the equipment too much (there's a reason why it looks and behaves the way it does right now).

Force the goalies to wear appropriately sized equipment and that problem will mostly be solved. A guy that's a beanpole like Ryan Miller shouldn't be wearing the same sized equipment as say Ray Emery, who probably has a good 2" and 25lbs on him.

There are other smaller changes that can be tweaked but overall I would say that pants are the biggest items that can be sized down and slightly slimmed down.

I don't necessarily mean the whole way around. More in spots that can be exposed depending on the goalie's position. Mostly the back/side of the legs and things like the wrists and knee caps.

The pads are as high as they are because goalies claim their knees get exposed when dropping. A) this is BS, the longer pad doesn't help with this, and B) they already have small pads underneath hat protect that area. Make those small pads out of something more shaped to the knee with harder/lighter material, and you can reduce the height of the pads down to where they meet the pants, like they should be. Same with the cuffs on the gloves.

[calgaryblood]

Imagine how many less goals Fleury would have scored if he played in today's goaltending era.

[Stillman16]

Originally Posted by Envitro

I agree that better materials COULD be used, maybe..
You have to balance better protection with less bulk, and weight considerations.

On your other point, I don't believe there is a requirement to protect the back at all. If your back is facing the play or the shooter you're kind of doing it wrong...

Wraparound protection is not just unnecessary but it also adds weight and wouldn't even be possible with today's tech. The bulky panels of the C&A don't just provide with blocking area, they also protect vital joints from the force of the impact.

There are good ways to reduce the size of the equipment without actually altering the equipment too much (there's a reason why it looks and behaves the way it does right now).

Force the goalies to wear appropriately sized equipment and that problem will mostly be solved. A guy that's a beanpole like Ryan Miller shouldn't be wearing the same sized equipment as say Ray Emery, who probably has a good 2" and 25lbs on him.

There are other smaller changes that can be tweaked but overall I would say that pants are the biggest items that can be sized down and slightly slimmed down.

The flaw I see with this, is the bigger the goalie, the bigger (more net coverage) equipment he gets to wear...still unfair!

I think they should adapt a max area (inches squared) any goalie is allowed to cover, then let them tweak their gear to suit. With computers, policing this shouldn't be too hard....

[Robbob]

Getting rid of some of the cheaters and way oversized equipment is a start. No need to wear XXL pants and Jersey if you are 6' 180 lbs. If they can start reducing the equipment so the athletic goalie has an advantage over the oversized blocking goalie I am okay with that. Now if you have size and athleticism than advantage you.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Imagine how many less goals Fleury would have scored if he played in today's goaltending era.

Or imagine how many fewer goals ______ (insert literally any player pre-1995ish) would have...

[CliffFletcher]

Personally, I enjoy watching goalies make acrobatic saves more than making themselves big. So bring on the smaller equipment.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Or imagine how many fewer goals ______ (insert literally any player pre-1995ish) would have...

My bad, I thought it would be as relevant as Fleury always talking about the 'good ol days'.