Safety rules exist for a reason — and now the NHL is stepping in to remind everyone why. After multiple teams took the ice without helmets during warmups, the league plans to issue a formal reminder that protective headgear isn’t optional, it’s mandatory.
On Monday night, the New Jersey Devils made headlines when players warmed up bareheaded before facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in Newark. Instead of helmets, they sported commemorative caps reading “1,000 Dilly,” honoring defenseman Brenden Dillon’s milestone of 1,000 NHL games. A nice tribute, no doubt — but one that quietly broke league rules.
According to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, “[We intend to send a reminder to all Clubs as to the applicable rules as they apply to the use of helmets in warm-up],” he shared in an email to The Athletic on Tuesday. Daly stopped short of specifying exactly when or how that message will be sent.
But the Devils weren’t alone. Just days earlier, both the Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks ditched their helmets before games against the Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas. Only goaltenders Alex Nedeljkovic and Yaroslav Askarov kept their protective gear on. When asked, Sharks rookie Will Smith described the no-helmet choice as “a team decision,” joking that it didn’t take much convincing — after all, “It was Saturday night in Vegas.”
For the Senators, the idea came up casually the night before their November 26 game. As defenseman Jake Sanderson put it during a TV interview, “It was just a little discussion over a team dinner last night. We’ll see if it happens again in the future.” The NHL, however, seems eager to ensure that it doesn’t.
This renewed attention on helmet use stems from a rule implemented during the 2023–24 season. Under Rule 9.6, all players who entered the league in or after the 2019–20 season are required to wear helmets during pre-game warmups. The only exception? Veterans who debuted before that 2019–20 cutoff — and even then, tradition only tends to excuse the classic “rookie lap,” when a first-time player takes a solo spin around the rink before joining teammates.
The regulation may sound strict, but the rationale is clear: warmups can be just as risky as gameplay, with stray pucks and sticks posing real hazards. The NHL would rather prevent injuries than apologize for them later. Yet, fans are divided. Some love seeing teams show personality before puck drop, arguing that warmups should allow more freedom. Others insist that safety should never be negotiable.
So here’s the debate: is the NHL overreaching by cracking down on harmless pre-game rituals — or is this just a smart reminder that safety always comes first? What do you think — should players be allowed to ditch the helmet if they choose, or should the rule stay absolute?
