DiPietro and Snow Join NHL Goalie Council

The NHL decided that it was time to take a look at shrinking goalie equipment--as long as they can keep the guys safe--in an attempt to try and amp up the scoring in the league. It's an idea that needs to be addressed...even if it seems like we are trying to fix stuff that may not be broken year after year.

The Islanders GM Garth Snow will be representing the league-side of things and Rick DiPietro will be one of the consulting players. Funny that Snow would be one of the go-to guys on shrinking the dimensions of goalie equipment because many point at him as the guy who introduced and benefited from using the over-sized shoulder pads, pants, and goalie pads in the 1990s. It's almost like hiring a thief to sit in on meetings about protecting your home from burglars.

Other members of the (is it a...?) blue ribbon committee are Doug Risebrough of Minnesota, Jim Rutherford of Carolina (and a former Detroit goalie) and Dallas' co-GM Brett Hull. The representing players chosen by the NHLPA are: Martin Brodeur of New Jersey, Ryan Miller of Buffalo, Dany Heatley of Ottawa and Mike Cammalleri of Los Angeles. The PA chose two skaters and three goalies for the job; a good mix, I think.

The Goalie Equipment Working Group will meet shortly after the Stanley Cup playoffs end and before the Entry Draft; on or around June 11 in Toronto. According to the Globe and Mail, if the working group decides changes to the dimensions of goaltender equipment are warranted--but that the goalies wearing the (theoretically) smaller equipment will not be jeopardized--then the recommendations will be forwarded to the Competition Committee for consideration.

It's also worth mentioning that in the past, league committees and the GMs have simply passed legislation regarding player equipment without seeking input from the Players' Association (insert RBK uniform jokes here). Now, under new NHLPA Executive Director Paul Kelly, there looks to be a bit of a break in the relationship between the players and ownership that is healthy as the game we love moves forward