NHL confirms no changes to emergency goalie policy

Last week it was reported by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman that the NHL and its general managers were considering making changes to its emergency goalie policy following David Ayres showing with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Ayres, of course, is the 42 year old arena worker turned star goalie who was forced to suit up for the ‘Canes against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada. It was a once in a lifetime moment for Ayres and for hockey fans watching around the world. But, while Ayres story was a incredible pop culture moment for the league, the sense is that GMs weren’t exactly happy with how everything played out and would prefer to make changes.

From Friedman last week:

The EBUG situation will be discussed at next week’s GM meetings in Florida. A couple of years ago, there was a movement to making every team hire an additional assistant/video coach with recent college/junior/professional goaltending experience. That person would be required to travel, so if this occurred, each team would have its own relatively young third goalie. (In the playoffs, teams travel with three.) The associated cost scuttled the idea.

Well… the votes are in and… NO CHANGES!

Check it out:

At the NHL GM meetings in Boca Raton, the general managers discussed emergency backup goalie procedures, but doesn’t sound like there’s much appetite for reform. Sentiment is: it’s rare occurrence, and reacting now would be purely reactionary. Most like the system in place.
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) March 2, 2020

NHL director of hockey ops Colin Campbell on EBUGs: “It’s a good human interest story. I think the process works... our general managers are fine with where it’s at right now.”
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) March 2, 2020