Goalie Safety Under Fire: NHL Faces Pressure to Change Equipment Rules After Stolarz Incident

This past week in the NHL has been an unusually dangerous one for goaltenders. Three different netminders in Anthony Stolarz, Karel Vejmelka, and Adin Hill all experienced frightening near-misses after their masks came off mid-play, with referees allowing the action to continue.

The incidents have sparked waves of concern across the league, and even Elliotte Friedman brought it up during Saturday Headlines, suggesting that goalie equipment changes could soon be on the horizon, providing an example of what the new masks may look like.

A goalie's helmet usually flies off when a puck strikes the buckles, knocking it loose. With players able to consistently shoot over 90 mph, it's easy to see why this is becoming a serious safety issue.

If the NHL can develop a new helmet design that keeps goalies safer without changing the flow of the game, it's a no-brainer. All three netminders were lucky to avoid major injuries this week, but their near misses have highlighted a flaw that can't be ignored.

While it's unlikely that the NHL will immediately change the rule requiring referees to blow a play dead, a mandatory equipment upgrade feels inevitable. Much like the visor rule introduced years ago, new goalies entering the league could be required to wear safer, redesigned masks, with current players strongly encouraged to switch.

Either way, it's clear that change is coming, and for the safety of every goalie in the league, it can't come soon enough.