Ex-Leafs GM Kyle Dubas imposes ridiculous rule on Penguins goaltenders in recent power trip
Goalies really are the coolest hockey players. They're willing to not only stand in the way of 100 mph slap shots, but they manage to look cool doing it. Between the custom painted masks and beautiful custom pads and gloves, goalies are also the only hockey players who really get to make unique style choices with their gear. Looking at a goalie's equipment gives us a window into their personality.
In my opinion, the most boring choice a goaltender can make is the all white pad. It's bland, it's boring, and it's played out. Many goalies take the easy way out and throw in a small splash of their team colours because, well, it's better than nothing. However, it's a far cry from what pads should be with all the customization technology available.
In an odd move, Kyle Dubas is forcing his netminders to wear majority white pads this season. It probably has to do with the idea that white pads make a goaltender appear larger in the net. This philosophy completely ignores the idea that darker pads make the puck harder for officials to see and lead to more early whistles during scrambles, when they assume the puck has been frozen by the goalie. Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is also using that to his advantage this season by switching to black blade holders on his skates.
The debate of light vs. dark pads will continue to rage among goaltending circles, but it is absolutely ridiculous for Dubas to mandate his goaltenders' pad colours. Goalies are superstitious creatures. Forcing change on them is, at the very least, an unnecessary risk to their overall confidence and feeling. With the Penguins goaltending situation tenuous at best, a wise man would let them wear whatever they feel most comfortable in.
Plus, look at how much better Jarry looked with those beautiful black pads
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 23 | 1017 ANSWERS Ex-Leafs GM Kyle Dubas imposes ridiculous rule on Penguins goaltenders in recent power trip Should goalies be forced to wear white pads? | ||
| Yes, classic, clean and looks bigger | 77 | 7.6 % |
| No, let them pick | 889 | 87.4 % |
| Black pads are awesome | 51 | 5 % |
| List of polls | ||
