The NHL recently issued a memo to teams stipulating that all goalies need to be wearing their new streamlined pants by Feb. 4.
There have been consistent efforts over the last couple of years aimed at finding a way to increase scoring as save percentages have been steadily increasing over the last decade.
However, Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford has his own, interesting, take on pad size and increasing offense.
“I’ve always thought the real issue isn’t goalie equipment. The issue is ice,” he said to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. “If you can make ice like the way it is in Colorado, the way it is in Washington, Edmonton — you make the conditions like that for every game in every rink, guys are going to score.
“Look at the Winter Classic, where plays are so much harder to come by. Guys are struggling with the puck on the ice, where they have to get their head down, to make sure the puck’s [settled] down.”
It’s an interesting argument, but, unfortunately for Crawford, his recent performance suggests otherwise.
He tried on the new pants in game action on Jan. 13 against the Washington Capitals and he let in five goals on 30 shots to the tune of a .833 save percentage.
“Tough one to try them out in,” Crawford said. “I wore them in practice, too. They’re definitely thinner. It’s not going to make a huge difference, but there are some little tweaks to be done with the equipment.”