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NAPLES, Fla. - Shrink the goalies. Again.
That was the unanimous message from the NHL's 30 GMs Tuesday as they tried to address once and for all an issue that's played over and over again like Groundhog Day.
"Everybody is tired of the conversation," said Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland. "If we can't get this right, then we have to sit down and look at the alternatives. And obviously bigger nets is one of the alternatives. That's something I don't really think anybody wants to do. Our hope is to get the goalie equipment right."
Day 2 of the GM meetings produced a minor trade - veteran defenceman Jaroslav Modry was sent from Los Angeles to Philadelphia for a third-round draft pick. The meeting also dealt with other topics such as the IIHF-NHL player transfer agreement and other collective bargaining issues but the clear headliner was the decision to forge ahead with a plan to further reduce goalie equipment.
"It's the right thing," said veteran New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello, whose own goalie Martin Brodeur is certainly not among the cheaters. "Time has finally come where it's sort of taken a life of its own. As far as we're concerned, Marty probably wears the smallest equipment out there. But I don't think that's the point.
"What was impressive today was that it was unanimous, that every manager, no matter what their thought process was before, that it's finally got to the point where it has to get addressed."
The GMs agreed to form a committee of current and past skaters, goalies and GMs to come up with a way to further reduce and streamline equipment without putting the goalies at risk. The inclusion of current skaters and goalies is key - they can't make these changes without the endorsement of the NHL Players' Association.
That was the unanimous message from the NHL's 30 GMs Tuesday as they tried to address once and for all an issue that's played over and over again like Groundhog Day.
"Everybody is tired of the conversation," said Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland. "If we can't get this right, then we have to sit down and look at the alternatives. And obviously bigger nets is one of the alternatives. That's something I don't really think anybody wants to do. Our hope is to get the goalie equipment right."
Day 2 of the GM meetings produced a minor trade - veteran defenceman Jaroslav Modry was sent from Los Angeles to Philadelphia for a third-round draft pick. The meeting also dealt with other topics such as the IIHF-NHL player transfer agreement and other collective bargaining issues but the clear headliner was the decision to forge ahead with a plan to further reduce goalie equipment.
"It's the right thing," said veteran New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello, whose own goalie Martin Brodeur is certainly not among the cheaters. "Time has finally come where it's sort of taken a life of its own. As far as we're concerned, Marty probably wears the smallest equipment out there. But I don't think that's the point.
"What was impressive today was that it was unanimous, that every manager, no matter what their thought process was before, that it's finally got to the point where it has to get addressed."
The GMs agreed to form a committee of current and past skaters, goalies and GMs to come up with a way to further reduce and streamline equipment without putting the goalies at risk. The inclusion of current skaters and goalies is key - they can't make these changes without the endorsement of the NHL Players' Association.
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