The NHL sent all 32 teams a video outlining this season’s uniform enforcement push – including the controversial jersey tuck penalty.
“We’ll see how this plays out, but the league has sent a video to all the players and staff members on what the emphasis is going to be this year,” said Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery, via RMNB. “There’s a couple other little things on it, but visors and the jerseys [were a big part].”
The league’s three-minute video walks through four areas – neck protection, helmets in warmups, visors, and jerseys – with the same procedure applied to each: officials issue a warning first, then assess a two-minute minor if the violation isn’t fixed.
Neck Protection Required
The video opens with the season’s only actual rule change: beginning in 2026-27, all players – including goalkeepers – with zero games of NHL experience must wear cut-resistant neck protection rated at a minimum A5 cut level under the ANSI/ISEA 105 (2016) standard. Veterans are “encouraged” to wear it for maximal protection. Officials will warn players not wearing neck protection; a minor penalty will be issued if they’re still not compliant when they return to the ice.
Pre-game Penalties? Helmets Mandated for Warmups
The video reinforces the existing mandate that players who entered the NHL in 2019-20 or later must wear helmets during pregame warmup. Players who made their NHL debuts prior to 2019-20 are exempt, other exemptions are on a case-by-case basis.
This one’s not handled by the refs, though, since they’re not out there for warmups. Player Safety staff will monitor warmups and flag non-compliance to equipment managers. After a warning, a player who continues to participate in warmups without a helmer will receive a minor penalty to start the game. A team could open puck drop shorthanded over a warmup violation.
Tilted Visors On Notice
Rule 9.7 requires visors be affixed to ensure adequate eye protection. The league’s video shows photos of improperly worn visors as examples of what won’t pass, notably former Leaf Leo Komarov and his hat-brim level shield. Again, players will get a warning, then a minor if it’s not fixed.
The preseason has already produced one penalty for this one. Capitals prospect Lynden Lakovic took an illegal-equipment minor for his visor against Boston earlier this month.
Un-Tuck It
The video restates the tuck standard, that no jersey tucked to expose the top padding of the pants or additional body protection, and the uniform number must be visible and unobstructed. The league acknowledges that jerseys ride up during play, requiring players to “untuck their jersey prior to resuming play.” It’s a warning, then a minor. We covered the first tuck call of the crackdown and the first in 13 years: Trevor Zegras in Flyers-Bruins. We’ll wait to see if it gets whistled in the regular season.
Teams will also receive an updated uniform guidelines poster for reference. The league notes that the added neck protection and the enforcement on warmup helmets, visors, and jerseys are “all designed with player safety and league image in mind.”
League image? Interesting mention there…
With the regular season opening tonight, the question is whether the warnings keep flowing or whether the preseason’s minors were enough to get the message across.
