As a boy in Darien, Conn., Spencer Knight didn’t suppose it received cooler than seeing Henrik Lundqvist play goalie for the New York Rangers. It had nothing to do with Lundqvist’s efficiency. Knight beloved Lundqvist’s tools.
“Purple and blue. TPS,” Knight recalled with a smile of Lundqvist’s pads. “He all the time had cool masks.”
Knight is now an NHL goalie. The 23-year-old might need chosen a unique occupation had it not been for Lundqvist’s stuff.
“Yeah. Yeah. A hundred percent,” stated the Florida Panthers goalie. “That’s the one factor that received me into it.”
Like his counterparts, Knight has one job: Cease the puck. However NHL goalies have distinctive preferences for customized tools that they’ve developed over time. The Bauer stick Knight makes use of, for instance, will not be the identical because the CCM mannequin that companion Sergei Bobrovsky prefers.
Goalies even have endorsement offers, and a few bias is unavoidable. NHL gamers are likely to put efficiency first in the case of their tools, although.
Goalies are additionally not above emphasizing aesthetics. It’s the one place the place NHLers can personalize their appears with paint jobs on their masks or graphics on their pads that promote self-expression.
“As corny because it sounds, look good, really feel good, play good,” the Seattle Kraken’s Joey Daccord stated. “If I look good and really feel good, then I really feel like I can play assured and simply go on the market and do my factor.”
With help from GearGeek, a web based database of NHL gamers’ tools selections, right here is how some goalies like their tools and why they like issues simply so:
Joey Daccord, Seattle Kraken
True Catalyst PX5 glove, Warrior Ritual V2 Professional+ stick
The glove is Daccord’s No. 1 precedence. Final yr, Daccord used the identical glove for all 50 begins. He breaks in his glove for one or two months in follow earlier than it’s prepared for recreation motion. Compared, he wants only one follow in a brand new blocker till he’s snug sporting it in a recreation.
“My glove is essential for the way the remainder of my physique feels. If my glove feels stiff, the remainder of my physique feels stiff. Swear to God. If I don’t really feel snug with my glove and my hand catching pucks, I really feel prefer it carries on all through the remainder of my physique and I really feel actually stiff. So it’s actually necessary for me that my glove is ideal. When my glove’s proper, I really feel like the remainder of my physique can transfer freely.”
Daccord is likely one of the NHL’s greatest puckhandling goalies. He’s not fast to change his sticks.
“I don’t undergo a ton of sticks. I don’t break a number of sticks. In all probability use 20 or 30 through the yr.”
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Due to how energetic he’s along with his touches, Daccord emphasizes mobility to chase pucks down.
“As a goalie, there’s nothing worse than being in there and feeling restricted by your gear. In case you placed on a brand new chest protector and it’s actually stiff, you may really feel type of restricted by your gear. So for me, it’s discovering no matter’s going to assist me carry out my greatest and really feel my greatest.”
Joey Daccord likes his glove properly worn in however wants just one follow earlier than he’s snug in a brand new blocker. (Steph Chambers / Getty Photos)
Spencer Knight, Florida Panthers
Bauer Konekt 2 skates
Knight likes to take every a part of his gear and get it dialed in via trial and error. Along with his skates, Knight targeted on the lower of his blades. He’s at the moment at 7/8”, a comparatively shallow hole. This lower lets him glide across the crease. However he’s cautious about taking his tinkering too far.
“One factor I prefer to mess around with is my blades. I’ve gotten incrementally duller. I’m at 7/8”, which is fairly shallow. I’ve performed round with that. I’ll be actually finicky with that. However then I get to some extent the place I’ve received to cease. I’m like, ‘All proper, I’m out. I’ve received to concentrate on what’s necessary.’”
Joonas Korpisalo, Boston Bruins
True Professional Customized One Piece skates
Korpisalo used to put on a True boot with a Bauer cowling. When he switched a number of years in the past from Vaughn to True pads, Korpisalo ditched the cowling. He’s happier now.
“It’s a whole really feel of the skate. There’s no rivets or one thing which may loosen up. That’s the largest change I’ve made: the skates. It’s excellent. Particularly the response you get from pushing, not catching your edge. Not having a separate cowling, it seems like I can switch the ability instantly. I take advantage of the skates so long as I can. The earlier True skates I had, I used for 2 years. I discover it arduous to alter skates.”
Korpisalo will not be finicky along with his gear. He is aware of others who’re.
“I’m not a gear nerd in any means in comparison with another goalies. The stuff among the goalies know in regards to the gear is mind-blowing. I’m like, ‘Huh, I by no means even considered that.’”
His father, Jari Korpisalo, was a talented ahead in Finland. He used his connections to accumulate used gear for his son.
“By no means new. By no means. I received my first new gear after I signed my first professional contract in Finland. I feel I used to be 18. First time I received my very own masks, personal gear. Earlier than that, I all the time used another person’s. So possibly that’s the place it stems from. If I’ve gear, I’ll be positive. It’s actually costly. Rising up, you would possibly develop an inch or two inches a yr and develop up from the gear. It didn’t matter what gear I had. I simply managed to undergo with it. I used to be fortunate my dad knew lots of people. I did have a mixture and match: purple glove, blue blocker. In fact, I used to be taking a look at different children like, ‘I want I had that.’ My dad was like, ‘Nope. You’re going to play with these. You’re not getting new gear.’ I revered that.”
Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
Bauer Supreme Shadow pads, Bauer Vapor HyperLite2 stick
Oettinger retains Bauer busy. He desires his pads arduous and stiff.
“I like new gear. I like new stuff just about each month. I really feel nice and I’ve confidence when I’ve new gear. It makes me really feel massive. So I attempt to swap as a lot as I can. I like arduous, stiff stuff. I simply don’t like comfortable gear.”
Oettinger feels the identical means about his stick. He’s received the specs dialed in. So long as it’s contemporary, he’s comfortable.
“New stick each recreation. Similar curve and flex I purchased after I was 12 from Complete Hockey. Similar stick for some time and I don’t see it altering anytime quickly.”
Oettinger’s dad and mom purchased him new tools when he outgrew his gear. Oettinger signed an eight-year, $66 million contract on Oct. 17, 2024. He joked he pays them again now, particularly as a result of he will get new stuff every time he desires with out paying a dime.
“It’s insane. Child in a sweet retailer. We’re very fortunate. It’s most likely one of many nicest elements about enjoying at this degree.”
Jake Oettinger retains Bauer busy with frequent gear replacements. (Michael Reaves / Getty Photos)
Calvin Pickard, Edmonton Oilers
Vaughn Ventus SLR3 Professional Carbon pads, Warrior Ritual V2 Professional+ stick
Pickard has labored with Vaughn for a number of seasons. When the corporate releases new pads, Pickard takes them on with no questions requested.
“I simply ensure that I’ve a bit little bit of staff colours on the pads. However the Vaughn guys will give you a brand new pad and I’ll be like, ‘Certain, sounds good. I’ll use it.’ Not very specific with gear in any respect.”
Pickard is hands-off along with his stuff. Some goalies will not be.
“I’ve performed with these guys. I don’t have a ton in widespread with them. I don’t know how you can have these conversations with them. So long as it’s agency and never damaged down, I can use it. As soon as they get damaged down, the following set comes.”
Pickard’s Vaughn loyalty solely goes to this point in the case of his stick.
“Their sticks had been so dangerous that I simply approached them. ‘Guys, I can’t use these items. They simply chip.’ In order that they’re like, ‘Yeah, they’re no good anyhow. Go use no matter you need.’”
Stuart Skinner, Edmonton Oilers
CCM Axis XF Professional pads
Good pads are Skinner’s precedence, and never merely for stopping pucks. Seamless motion is crucial.
“There’s a number of various things that go into making a pad. The way in which I’m in a position to really feel on the market. The seal on the ice. The way in which I’m in a position to get a seal on my posts. Having the ability to come out of the publish into no matter place I’m in.”
It’s been a course of for Skinner to discover a resolution he likes. A part of that is due to his evolution.
“You become old. You’re feeling like possibly you don’t want a strap. ‘What’s the purpose of the strap?’ Otherwise you suppose you want a bit extra strapping on the calf. Or I want extra assist round my ankles as a result of I’m getting older. So there’s just a few issues that change as time goes on. Clearly how the sport adjustments, too. The sport is performed a lot in RVH. So I’ve modified some strapping in my boot. I don’t have any strapping in there proper now. The sport’s performed (in RVH) a lot. So I simply felt I don’t want further weight there.”
Stuart Skinner says the “seal on the ice” is a crucial component in selecting his pads. (Joel Auerbach / Getty Photos)
Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
True L87 pads
Some goalies like straps and buckles to safe their pads. Swayman just lately did away along with his.
“Now I’m all Velcro. It’s a bit totally different. It makes it a bit lighter. It’s been actually superior to see how True’s tailored to new methods to make goalie pads extra environment friendly, match higher, maneuver higher on the ankle and knee. What feels good for me is after I’m in a butterfly, if I can contact the highest of the pads collectively with out crossing them over and there’s no hole there, that’s a fairly good match. And the place my knee’s touchdown on the pad. Simply so there’s correct weight distribution all through the entire pad so I’m not having squeakers undergo my five-hole and even over the pad too.”
Swayman wore used pads till he was 16 in his first yr of junior. Utilizing customized gear nonetheless makes him marvel.
“There’s no dangerous days. I don’t take it with no consideration, ever. That’s one thing that’s in a position to floor me. I keep in mind fairly properly how a lot I needed new pads. Now you may go into the tools room and seize a brand new goalie glove. It didn’t was like that. It’s feeling. It makes you’re employed arduous and earn it daily.”
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(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic, with pictures by André Ringuette, Zak Krill and Leila Devlin / Getty Photos)
