The National Hockey League (NHL) has reinforced a series of equipment regulations this season, signaling a renewed emphasis on player safety and uniform compliance. This comes alongside the implementation of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, which includes both newly instituted and more strictly enforced rules applicable to skaters’ on-ice gear.

One notable change affects neck protection. All players without previous NHL experience are now required to wear cut-resistant neck guards rated at least A5, capable of withstanding approximately five pounds of blade force under laboratory testing standards. These guards must be worn during pregame warm-ups and on the ice and cannot be altered or modified. Veterans with at least one NHL game prior to this rule are exempt under a grandfather clause. This mandate follows the 2023 death of Adam Johnson, who suffered a fatal neck injury due to a skate blade during a match in England.

Jersey regulations have seen stricter enforcement rather than new rules. Players must start each shift with jerseys untucked and fully covering protective equipment. However, if a jersey becomes tucked or rides up during play, no penalty is assessed provided it was properly worn when the player entered the ice. Additionally, jerseys must be securely tied to pants at all times. The NHL rulebook includes highly specific measurements governing jersey sizes, with tolerances as precise as three-quarters of an inch across multiple dimensions.

Visor regulations remain consistent with those introduced during the 2013-14 season, requiring players with fewer than 25 NHL games to wear eye protection affixed to helmets in a manner providing “adequate” coverage. Yet the lack of a clear definition for “adequate” allows for variability in visor positioning. Tilted visors—such as those worn high above the eyes—have occasionally drawn penalties for illegal equipment, a situation exemplified in 2017 when Leo Komarov of the Toronto Maple Leafs was penalized after warnings for excessive tilt. As of March 2024, only three active skaters—Ryan O’Reilly, Zach Bogosian and Jamie Benn—continue to play without visors following the recent retirement of Ryan Reaves.

Helmet regulations require all players to wear league-approved helmets during games, whether on the ice, bench, or penalty box. The rules are slightly relaxed during pregame warm-ups for veterans who entered the NHL before the 2019-20 season, allowing some to forgo helmets during this period. If a player loses a helmet during active play, they must immediately replace it or leave the ice, with an allowance to complete the ongoing play. Continuing without a helmet results in a two-minute penalty, and intentionally removing an opponent’s helmet is penalized as roughing. Goalie mask rules differ, with play stopping immediately if a goalie’s mask is dislodged while their team controls the puck; if the opposition has possession, play may continue through an imminent scoring chance before halting.

The renewed enforcement of these equipment policies may mark a shift in the NHL’s approach to uniform compliance and safety after periods of inconsistent application. For example, the league’s crackdown on tucked jerseys, initially spotlighted in 2013 following a penalty to Evgeni Malkin, largely faded until the recent penalty assessed to Trevor Zegras during a preseason game last week. Whether this stricter attention will persist throughout the regular season remains to be seen.