Well… sitting on my couch watching my Sabres whoop on the Leafs… and we’re in the middle of the 2nd int. Roby, Sylvester and Ray are on and the seemingly “hot” issue with the GM’s of the NHL is the current size of the Goaltender equipment is being briefly discussed… NOW I’m listening and fired up…

Now, I am all for an exciting game, which almost everytime I watch (multiple teams by the by…) I am always entertained regardless of the scoring, lots or none. Roby went on to make a comment and i quote… ”...the goaltenders sit on their own little island, not worrying about a thing and control the game how they see fit.” I love our commentators but in my opinion this comment is in need of serious re-evaluation.

With the fast pace and the hard shooters in todays NHL, a puck at 90 mph, if it catches anyone on a soft part of their gear, it stings like a mother!! And we’re supposed to be completely protected… yeah right! I would know being that I’m a goalie! Today’s goaltenders are in need of anything but smaller equipment. Do I need to remind everyone of Richard Zednik? How about Clint Malarchuk? I would hope those extremely scary events would be a lesson… however i think the pertinent points have been missed.

The score of any game should not be more important than ANY player’s safety. The current NHL regs on goaltender equipment is just fine in the fact that those pads aren’t there for looks or just for stopping pucks. They provide a safer condition in a very dangerous game! Reducing the size of the pads I feel would comprimise not only the NHL goaltenders wellfare, but it would also endanger millions of lower level players that purchase the “NHL Spec” pads for their recreational play, granted the options to have non-regulation pads are out there.

If the fans were to have even a small say in these meetings, i think we would keep things they way they are… but i may be wrong. So I ask for every and anyone to SOUND OFF!!! I want to know other fans stand points!!

-Pilch