NHL Warns Teams About Helmetless Warm-ups
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly has communicated that the league is alerting teams about the practice of conducting warm-ups without helmets, a trend that has been on the rise this season and that contravenes established rules. Daly reported that the league will send a memorandum to remind teams that the use of helmets is mandatory during warm-ups for “all players who entered the NHL from the 2019-2020 season or later,” according to Rule 9.6. The Ottawa Senators took to the ice to warm up without helmets in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights last Wednesday, having lost in their previous six visits to the T-Mobile Arena. Forward Shane Pinto stated that the players decided at a team dinner to change their luck in Las Vegas by removing their helmets. “It was great to do,” he said. The Senators won the game 4-3 in the shootout. The San Jose Sharks also did away with helmets during warm-ups in Las Vegas, having lost five consecutive away games against the Knights. However, their luck didn’t change, losing 4-3 against their division rival. Forward Will Smith indicated that there was no particular motivation for it.On Tuesday night, the New Jersey Devils took to the ice wearing caps instead of helmets, in honor of defenseman Brenden Dillon’s 1,000th NHL game. The Rule 9.6 states:It was a team decision. It was Saturday night in Las Vegas, so I think all the guys were fine with doing it.
Will Smith
- It is mandatory that all players who entered the NHL from the 2019-2020 season or later wear their helmets during pre-game warm-ups.
- To be clear, all players who entered the League before the 2019-2020 season and are currently playing are exempt from this mandate.
