NHL Emergency Goalies Gain a Regular Role in Managing Practice Workloads

The NHL’s emergency-goalie system is giving clubs another way to reduce their regular goalies’ practice workloads, NHL.com reported Friday.

The policy taking effect this season requires every club to have an approved emergency replacement prepared for home and away games. That person can also be employed by the team in another role.

Attachment 87 of the NHL-NHLPA’s 2025 memorandum excludes anyone who has played an NHL game under a standard player contract, more than 80 professional games or professional hockey within the previous three seasons.

A candidate also cannot be on an NHL club’s reserve or restricted-free-agent list, or have contractual obligations that prevent the emergency role. Clubs must send the league the proposed replacement’s identity and playing history and receive approval before using him.

Playing in a game remains subject to specified emergency conditions. Those include a late injury when a club cannot dress two goalies and the league determines a recall cannot arrive in time.