10 Maple Leafs players affected by latest NHL ruling on famous pregame tradition
Photo credit: Toronto Maple Leafs - Instagram
According to an existing NHL rule regarding pregame warmups, there are 10 Maple Leafs who cannot take warmups without a helmet, or risk being fined.
Quite often as well we see rookies debut and take their first lap on the ice ahead of everyone else, and many do so without their helmet, getting their first taste of that crisp cool air as they skate around and take in the atmosphere.
The league has reiterated several times that helmets are mandatory in warmup for certain players, and the rule now creates a bit of a generation gap on every NHL roster.
NHL reminds teams of obscure equipment rule after New Jersey's actions
Recently to celebrate Brendan Dillon's 1000th NHL game, the New Jersey Devils started warmups without their helmets, and while some were allowed to, many were too young.
The NHL treated the Devils' pregame stunt as a clear violation of Rule 9.6 in the league's official rulebook.
The rule states:
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. 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.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told NJ Advance Media that the league would send a memo to all teams reminding them of the rule and reinforcing helmet use in warmup.
Daly wrote:
We intend to send a memo to the Clubs reminding them as to applicable rules mandating helmet use in warm-up.
With that rule being one that doesn't seem to really come up, how does this affect teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs?
How the Toronto Maple Leafs are affected by the NHL's ruling
Well, the team would have 10 players who do not qualify for the helmet exemption, with the most recent being rookie Easton Cowan.
The players include:
Goaltenders (2):
- Dennis Hildeby (G) (Debut: October 2024-25)
- Joseph Woll (G) (Debut: October 2020-21)
- Dennis Hildeby (G) (Debut: October 2024-25)
- Joseph Woll (G) (Debut: October 2020-21)
Defensemen (1):
- Simon Benoit (D) (Debut: October 2021-22)
- Simon Benoit (D) (Debut: October 2021-22)
Forwards (7):
- Easton Cowan (F) (Debut: October 2025-26)
- Dakota Joshua (F) (Debut: October 2020-21)
- Matthew Knies (F) (Debut: October 2022-23)
- Steven Lorentz (F) (Debut: October 2020-21)
- Matias Maccelli (F) (Debut: October 2022-23)
- Bobby McMann (F) (Debut: October 2022-23)
- Nick Robertson (F) (Debut: October 2020-21)
- Easton Cowan (F) (Debut: October 2025-26)
- Dakota Joshua (F) (Debut: October 2020-21)
- Matthew Knies (F) (Debut: October 2022-23)
- Steven Lorentz (F) (Debut: October 2020-21)
- Matias Maccelli (F) (Debut: October 2022-23)
- Bobby McMann (F) (Debut: October 2022-23)
- Nick Robertson (F) (Debut: October 2020-21)
For that group, the classic no-bucket rookie lap or helmet-off milestone skate is off the table unless they're willing to risk a fine.
All of these players are required to wear protection or risk getting fined, though stars like William Nylander, John Tavares and Auston Matthews can choose to skate how they wish.
While it's easy to dismiss this rule as minor, it could create a bit of tension between older and younger players. Younger guys generally don't want to feel excluded from the little team moments and traditions that happen even before puck drop.
We've come a long way when it comes to hockey equipment, as the advancements in technology, construction, and material has made PPE much much safer, and the NHL is trying to make sure their billion-dollar investments are as safe as possible.
But in certain circumstances players will always try to bend traditions and push the edge a little, which is why the league office is stepping in with reminders now instead of waiting for something to go wrong.
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