The NHL is reiterating to players that helmets are a required part of their uniform when they take the ice for warmups.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski the league plans to send a memo to every team underlining Rule 9.6 in the official rulebook.
“It is mandatory for all players who entered the NHL beginning with the 2019-2020 season or later to wear their helmet during pre-game warm-up,” the subsection reads. “To be clear, all players who entered the League prior to the 2019-2020 season and who are currently playing are exempt from this mandate.”
Prior to Monday’s 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, some New Jersey Devils players wore baseball hats on the ice to commemorate defenseman Brenden Dillon’s 1,000th appearance.
Teams have found other justifications to leave their helmets in the locker room.
“Just to have a little bit of fun,” San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic said, per The Athletic’s Eric Stephens and Jesse Granger. “It’s a fun city. Everyone wants to have a good time. Maybe play with a little bit of swagger. Everybody feels good with the hair flowing and all of that. I thought it was fun. Maybe we’ll do it again, who knows?”
It’s hard to take issue with that logic.
Alas, the rule is pretty clear.
Tenured veterans continue to have the option of skating sans helmet. Everyone else will need their buckets.
