What Happened
Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras was assessed a two-minute minor penalty during Thursday's pre-season finale against the Boston Bruins for improperly wearing his equipment, officially scored as delay-of-game. It marked the first known enforcement of the NHL's stricter uniform regulations, which cover jerseys, neckguards, visors and helmets. Under the new guidelines, a player must begin each shift with his jersey untucked. The Flyers still won the game 2-0.
Key Details
- Zegras received a two-minute minor, scored as delay-of-game.
- The NHL's stricter enforcement covers jerseys, neckguards, visors and helmets.
- A player must start his shift with his jersey untucked.
- If a jersey rides up during play, no warning or penalty is issued.
- The jersey must remain untucked when the player next steps on the ice.
- One warning is given before a two-minute penalty; per Elliotte Friedman, another infraction leads to a misconduct.
What It Means
The NHL's new uniform enforcement now has its first recorded penalty, showing the league intends to apply the rules during games rather than treat them as guidance. For players, the practical effect is that a jersey must be untucked at the start of every shift, with one warning before a minor is called. Zegras's penalty came in a pre-season game, but the rule applies to the regular season as well.
What's Next
The rule remains in effect for the regular season, and players will need to ensure their jerseys are untucked at the start of each shift. A second infraction after a warning would result in a misconduct, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.