who pays for NHLers gear?

[Jarick 5]

Well somebody has to pay for it...teams pass the cost to the fans, players pass the cost to the teams who pass the cost to the fans, manufacturers aren't going to lose money on these deals.

Moving the burden of cost from the teams to the players would likely have the same effect as health savings accounts...there would be a gradual decrease in equipment costs as players will negotiate deals and be more cost conscious.

Actually, that's not a bad model...equipment is purchased through the team and an allowance is given to the players (say $10-15k or whatever per season). Players spending under that amount keep the difference while players who spend over have to pay out of pocket. Discounts are negotiated through the team.

I still think it would increase demand for "durable" sticks, which would reduce breakage across the league and keep the talking heads from whining about going back to wood sticks.

[fieldofdreams 0]

Wow. That's about 4-5k per player, or about 20-30 sticks per player (assuming $200 sticks). Actually not crazy considering a 30-40 game schedule, plus final four.

I doubt they spend $200 per stick. I'm sure ponying up 100K+ in sticks, they get quite a heavy discount.

[DEATHTRON 19]

Some of you have mentioned it...but some teams gives players a "budget" so to speak. They can spend this much on ___, and are allowed to spend X amount on ___.

Also, if players had to buy their own gear I would think that there would start to be problems with players not buying new gear, and possibly using "old" logo's (nbh for example), which the league might not like since brands have to pay for their logo's (or however it works). Or you get a guy that refuses to change something even if its not in team colors for some odd reason. Next thing you know, youve got a goalie in red pads playing for Dallas, or a all black outfit (helmet, gloves, pants) playing for Toronto....

I just dont see teams forcing equipment on the pro's

[Speedz98 15]

I still think it would increase demand for "durable" sticks, which would reduce breakage across the league and keep the talking heads from whining about going back to wood sticks.

Are wood sticks even healthy? There's so much shock being absorbed by your joints. I get that a hard shot is a hard shot or catch a hard pass, but you feel it A LOT more on Wood sticks.

[DEATHTRON 19]

How is there more shock using wood? The entire wood stick flex's...I dont think alot gets transferred there...if anything Id make an "energy lost" argument, but I dont even think thats true.

Zach

[mwerth 5]

I still think it would increase demand for "durable" sticks, which would reduce breakage across the league and keep the talking heads from whining about going back to wood sticks.

Are wood sticks even healthy? There's so much shock being absorbed by your joints. I get that a hard shot is a hard shot or catch a hard pass, but you feel it A LOT more on Wood sticks.

I think the shock issue comes into play more during a one-timer since the puck is coming at you and you're immediately directing it away. Kind of like a wood baseball bat - if you miss the sweet spot, even with a pro-quality grain, you seriously feel it in your hands. With hockey sticks, though, I don't think this is as big of a deal since the wood is designed to flex with little effort. Much easier to Bo Jackson a stick than a bat.

[Gummer12 134]

Well somebody has to pay for it...teams pass the cost to the fans, players pass the cost to the teams who pass the cost to the fans, manufacturers aren't going to lose money on these deals.

Moving the burden of cost from the teams to the players would likely have the same effect as health savings accounts...there would be a gradual decrease in equipment costs as players will negotiate deals and be more cost conscious.

Actually, that's not a bad model...equipment is purchased through the team and an allowance is given to the players (say $10-15k or whatever per season). Players spending under that amount keep the difference while players who spend over have to pay out of pocket. Discounts are negotiated through the team.

I still think it would increase demand for "durable" sticks, which would reduce breakage across the league and keep the talking heads from whining about going back to wood sticks.

If you're just going to throw the $ away to the player, why not just use that money on spare gear, new equipment, new sharpening wheels, rivets, screws, travel cases, team wind suits, or anything else that you normally wouldn't buy with a tight budget that would help make things more professional or quicker in repairing or organizing. That's why Teams/EQ managers need to be in charge of all the gear purchases. They can work out deals a lot easier by buying for an Entire team rather than one person buying for himself. And all of that savings can be put towards other things. And as DEATH said, there are league obligations with regards to MFR logos and equipment usage is being upheld.

[michael.yue 2]

Also, if players had to buy their own gear I would think that there would start to be problems with players not buying new gear, and possibly using "old" logo's (nbh for example), which the league might not like since brands have to pay for their logo's (or however it works). Or you get a guy that refuses to change something even if its not in team colors for some odd reason. Next thing you know, youve got a goalie in red pads playing for Dallas, or a all black outfit (helmet, gloves, pants) playing for Toronto....

... or you have Jussi Jokinen wearing playing in Carolina and using Dallas gloves covered in red tape.

[Drewhunz 3]

Jussi has Messier like demands with Fitzpatrick abilities.

[Jarick 5]

If you're just going to throw the $ away to the player, why not just use that money on spare gear, new equipment, new sharpening wheels, rivets, screws, travel cases, team wind suits, or anything else that you normally wouldn't buy with a tight budget that would help make things more professional or quicker in repairing or organizing. That's why Teams/EQ managers need to be in charge of all the gear purchases. They can work out deals a lot easier by buying for an Entire team rather than one person buying for himself. And all of that savings can be put towards other things. And as DEATH said, there are league obligations with regards to MFR logos and equipment usage is being upheld.

You want to make an incentive for the player to choose equipment that is more durable and to use less of it.

I have no idea what an NHL player uses, but let's say the team budgets something like this:

4 dozen sticks at $150 each = $7200

2 pairs skates at $500 each = $1000

2 pairs gloves at $250 each = $500

General protective = $1000

As many helmets as needed

So that's roughly $10k in expenses.

Granted that's a drop in the bucket for a lot of player salaries, but it seems a few players will use 150-200 sticks a year or several pairs of skates and drive that number way, way up.

[Gummer12 134]

If you're just going to throw the $ away to the player, why not just use that money on spare gear, new equipment, new sharpening wheels, rivets, screws, travel cases, team wind suits, or anything else that you normally wouldn't buy with a tight budget that would help make things more professional or quicker in repairing or organizing. That's why Teams/EQ managers need to be in charge of all the gear purchases. They can work out deals a lot easier by buying for an Entire team rather than one person buying for himself. And all of that savings can be put towards other things. And as DEATH said, there are league obligations with regards to MFR logos and equipment usage is being upheld.

You want to make an incentive for the player to choose equipment that is more durable and to use less of it.

I have no idea what an NHL player uses, but let's say the team budgets something like this:

4 dozen sticks at $150 each = $7200

2 pairs skates at $500 each = $1000

2 pairs gloves at $250 each = $500

General protective = $1000

As many helmets as needed

So that's roughly $10k in expenses.

Granted that's a drop in the bucket for a lot of player salaries, but it seems a few players will use 150-200 sticks a year or several pairs of skates and drive that number way, way up.

Those numbers are more like NCAA Figures...Pro numbers Greatly outnumber that

[eric42434224 1]

I think I remembered the guys at Incredible Ice saying the team spent 500-600k a year for sticks.

[gxc999 7]

my theory is this: if you work in an office environment, your desk, your computer, your pens, pencils, phone, internet service is all supplied by your employer in order for you to get your job done. the players are part of a union, and paid by their respective teams. they're not self employed and as such, they shouldn't have to be responsible for their work related tools.

hockey is a an expensive business. some people would say that its the GMs that made the sport this way by offering the huge contracts and transforming these guys into prima donna rock stars who "need" 7+ pairs of skates per year.

i say if you want to run a solid business, provide the tools necessary.

I do agree, but the teams are going to want to sign deals with companies en masse to save, let's say, 15-25%, but certain players have contracts with certain companies and certain players will only use certain brands of equipment simply out of habit. It's a more complex problem than most of us think. However, with that said, I don't feel any pity for a team with a $50m payroll spending $700k out of pocket on equipment, that's 1.4% of player salary, and probably 0.8-0.9% of total operating costs, not exactly a monster expense overall.

[Ovie17 0]

Im just going to wing it here.. but What about Warranties on sticks? Does a warranty apply to the pro's or is that just to the public?

[calishark28 0]

Im just going to wing it here.. but What about Warranties on sticks? Does a warranty apply to the pro's or is that just to the public?

Pro Stock sticks have no warranty, only retail sticks do

[Ovie17 0]

Oh Gotcha.Ty for answering

[DarkStar50 679]

Easton has 14 players paid to use their equipment, including Derek Boogaard!

[Chadd 916]

Like if there is a sudden rash of breakage because they stopped using an important material in the stick construction? B)

Sticks used in professional hockey are not warrantied. There are, however, some exceptions where companies will usually look after team if there is a run of breakage in a batch, or, a player rejects the sticks that come in (happens less now with OPS than it did with wood sticks/blades).

Im just going to wing it here.. but What about Warranties on sticks? Does a warranty apply to the pro's or is that just to the public?

[stuie7 6]

Easton has 14 players paid to use their equipment, including Derek Boogaard!

he might not get as much media exposure as the likes of other sponsored players like zetterberg or heatley but alot of people will watch him drop his easton gloves and i bet he costs alot less! not a bad idea on eastons part.

[Neal 41]

Easton has 14 players paid to use their equipment, including Derek Boogaard!

he might not get as much media exposure as the likes of other sponsored players like zetterberg or heatley but alot of people will watch him drop his easton gloves and i bet he costs alot less! not a bad idea on eastons part.

I imagine it has a lot more to do with his cult-like following in Minnesota, one of the biggest hockey markets in the US. He is one of the most popular players on the Wild in spite of his lack of NHL level hockey skills.