Expect a slimmed-down Marc-Andre Fleury in net for the Golden Knights at training camp, though an offseason diet isn’t to blame.
The NHL passed new rules on goalie pad size this offseason to slim down chest protectors and cut down on unnecessary equipment that takes up a lot of space. The change should continue the league’s upward scoring trend but safety concerns already have been raised.
The new rules give goalies less padding around their shoulders, elbows, biceps and forearms in an attempt to have their pads take a more natural angle around their shoulder. Before some goalies had pads that took a straight line from their neck or even had a slightly upward angle, giving them a few more inches of equipment to block shots with.