The Road to Puck Drop
Split-squad tests before the 84-game grind begins
As the calendar turns to September, the NHL preseason is right around the corner. On September 19, 2026, the league's exhibition slate kicks off with a flurry of action — highlighted by the Toronto Maple Leafs opening their four-game preseason schedule with a classic split-squad matchup against the Montreal Canadiens, playing simultaneously at home at Scotiabank Arena and on the road at the Bell Centre.
With another split-squad test against the Ottawa Senators following on September 23, coaching staffs will immediately lean on their depth charts to evaluate their crease rotations ahead of the official 84-game regular-season puck drop on September 29.
Elite Anchors & Rising Contenders
The names holding down the crease — and the ones pushing for a job
This early intensity brings the spotlight squarely onto the league's goaltending hierarchies. In Winnipeg, Connor Hellebuyck returns as the foundational backbone for the Jets, while Ilya Sorokin continues to shoulder heavy defensive workloads for the New York Islanders. In New York, Igor Shesterkin looks to maintain his stellar high-danger save metrics with the Rangers, and Dallas star Jake Oettinger continues to cement his status as a premier young franchise pillar.
Meanwhile, training camps are buzzing with new faces and brewing competitions. In Montreal, highly touted rookie Jacob Fowler — coming off stellar development in the AHL with Laval — is pushing hard for serious playing time alongside Jakub Dobeš, who is eager to build on a strong rookie campaign. Out west, Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson form a formidable young 1A/1B tandem in Minnesota, and Edmonton added a major new piece to their goalie room by acquiring Devon Levi from Buffalo via summer trade.
Established anchors
Rising & new faces
The Science of Modern Equipment
How pad, skate, and helmet tech keep evolving
Equipment engineering continues to play a pivotal role in how these netminders perform.
Single-piece foam constructions designed to give goalies more predictable rebound control across the pad face.
Cross Glide Technology enhances inner-edge sliding for smoother, faster post-to-post movement, alongside lighter composite layering around the thighs.
Refined helmet designs leaning into advanced carbon-fiber layups and lightweight composite shells that maximize impact dispersion without weighing down the neck and shoulders.
Traditional tight cloth laces have increasingly given way to elastic and bungee toe ties, giving modern goalies the rapid responsiveness needed for fluid butterfly recoveries.
The End of the EBUG Era
New crease protection rules under the CBA
Beyond the pads and the crease paint, a major structural rule change is reshaping how teams handle goaltender injuries. The conversation always harkens back to the unforgettable night of February 22, 2020, when emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) David Ayres — a 42-year-old arena operations manager and Zamboni driver — stepped in for the Carolina Hurricanes against Toronto and earned a historic win.
While this ensures top-tier professional standards every single night, it officially closes the book on one of the most unpredictable and beloved traditions in professional sports.
As the puck drops on September 29, one truth remains absolute: the crease is still the ultimate equalizer. Whether it's a veteran superstar stealing a game with a third-period masterclass or a rookie rising from the AHL shadows to seize the spotlight, the race for Lord Stanley's Cup will, as always, be won and lost right in the blue paint.