Follow me on Twitter
The Golden Knights are out of the playoffs. Unless they need to move a player to gain cap space, there aren’t too many easy trade scenarios for Yzerman in Las Vegas. There’s interest in a few readers to see if Alec Martinez would want to sign a short term deal, but he may want to stay or go to another competitor.
After this week’s gear corner segment, at the bottom of the blog, I took a minute to talk about a point that BlueLineEnforcer brought up last week regarding new releases and having hockey kids who want to get the latest and greatest. Thanks again for sharing those thoughts, it’s much appreciated.
For my second “gear corner” I wanted to get Doug’s input on hockey gloves.
Here is a link to Warrior’s new glove releases. If you get a chance, once you’re done with the blog, take a look at some of the newest equipment being released.
When I meet gear collectors, sticks and gloves are usually at the forefront of that collection. There are players and hobbyists who get excited each year for the new models. For the pros, the approach to gloves is as varied and individual as the players themselves. I’ve seen former lacrosse players look for one glove to be smaller and much tighter fitting than the other. Patrick Kane is said to want brand new gloves each game (goes through about 80 pairs in a season). As you’ll see below, there are pros who want the gloves broken in, and will pay to have the palms redone. Doug did a fantastic job walking me through the differences, and I hope you enjoy what he has to say!:
Doug - For gloves, my situation is pretty unique (obviously). Working at Warrior provides me with options that aren’t available to most consumers. That being the case, I don’t go too crazy. When I splurge, it’s usually for custom colors that match my current team uniforms and not a crazy cuff or palm material.
As for getting gloves, we need to separate everyone else from NHL players. A vast majority of players wear retail gloves, straight out of the store. Players usually have a type of fit they prefer (narrow, wider, tapered, contour fit, etc) and they know their size. So, it’s just a matter of finding the right size/fit/color combo. Retail gloves satisfy the overwhelming majority of players outside of pro hockey. Personally, I am a stock, 14” glove. I prefer our Covert model gloves but I wear both Covert and Alpha regularly. The most important feature to me is fit.
NHL players are a totally different animal. They can get any and every modification, custom option, feature, etc. that they desire. The last thing we want our Warrior Pros worrying about is how their equipment fits or feels. Anything we can do to accommodate their asks, we do. There are a lot of players that go through several pairs of gloves per year because they like them to feel new all the time, the most I’ve heard of is 80 pairs in a season. There are definitely other players that never want to change gloves and keep having them re-palmed. Those players enjoy that broken in feeling. Outside of new or old, I haven’t really seen anything that shocks me in terms of modifications or custom options. Obviously, special cuffs and palms are pretty standard asks in the NHL…extra protection, less protection, modified finger lengths…all pretty standard.
I guess the strangest thing I’ve seen for and NHL player is asking for virtually no padding in his gloves. I won’t give his name but this player has zero plastic in his gloves and asks for very light foam. He also wears them very small and tight. His are the lightest gloves I’ve ever felt but also the least protective I’ve ever seen. But to my knowledge, he’s never had a serious hand injury. Pretty crazy stuff.
A huge thanks to Doug Todd and Warrior for sharing that!
Blue Line Enforcer made a comment that I wanted to give some credence and thought to. It was regarding the cost of the consumer side of hockey equipment for kids who want to have what the pros use, and the yearly turn around. I will be doing a separate write up in this Friday’s gear corner based around that concern, as it is one I’ve heard from several hockey parents over the years. (I don’t have kids, I just end up getting to know hockey parents for some reason!)
As with many things, I’m approaching this from what I learned from guitars. Alex Lifeson (Rush) plays Gibsons that would cost anywhere from 5-10K (and more) on tour. Very beautiful custom shop stuff. He released a lower end version this year that retails for $800. For someone learning or casually playing (not doing 150+ shows all over the world) it is a loaded instrument. It could handle a lot of the rigors of the road, but it’s way more accessible.
For equipment, especially with kids, i have a “top down” model. Skates have to fit right, and are (to me) the most important piece for kids learning to play. For sticks, making sure the fit, the lie, the flex are right is top of the list. When these models hit the racks that are really expensive, it’s definitely parental discretion. If the kids are still growing, the amount of difference they’re getting from each more expensive model will be the “law of diminishing returns”. At the pro level, these players feel everything. Doug talked about pros picking up a stick and putting it right back down if it doesn’t balance right. Once the skill level and feel are really high and fine tuned, it makes a lot more sense to pursue the details that come in higher end stuff. I’ve met hockey parents that reserve those really nice sticks for a Christmas present, or let the kids save up for them (etc). It is a special and personal thing, but the expense for travel hockey is through the roof. It’s just not always possible.
Check out some of my previous posts
The Golden Knights are out of the playoffs.
Updated mock drafts have Detroit looking at Wallstedt, Eklund and Edvinsson.
Helm and Filppula could be moving on.
Jared McIsaac may finally be healthy enough to have a solid pro year.
My first “summer reading post” covered Chelios’s career defining fib.
Friday was my first gear corner with Doug Todd from Warrior Hockey.
Albert Johansson won’t be competing for a spot in North America this season
I will be featuring the writings of Kevin Allen for a summer reading program this year. It’s tough to break up the summer months, and the one on one formats that Kevin has perfected is not only a pleasure to read but gives insight that isn’t easy to come by. I’ll be starting with Chris Chelios “Made in America”.
Colorado is out of the playoffs.
Isle be darned, Boston is out
(M)Over Achiever - Seider getting accolades
setting the limits on trades
Moritz Seider reminds me of Jiri Fischer
Mo Seider is getting good ice time at the IIHF Worlds Championship.
There may be some blockbuster deals coming.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»