The National Hockey League is cracking down on player uniforms this season, warning teams that rules regarding tucked jerseys and tilted visors will face strict enforcement. Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras became an early casualty of the renewed initiative on Thursday night, drawing a two-minute minor penalty for improperly wearing equipment after tucking his jersey into the back of his pants during a preseason game against the Boston Bruins.
Strict Enforcement Hits Philadelphia Flyers Forward Trevor Zegras
Zegras discovered the consequences of the league’s renewed focus during the preseason matchup. Under the updated enforcement guidelines, players must begin each shift with their jerseys untucked, though no penalty is assessed if a sweater rides up during active play. Referees issue a single warning before penalizing subsequent infractions with a two-minute minor for delay-of-game.
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“My jersey was tucked in for the shift,” Zegras said postgame, as reported by league coverage. “So after a warning, they said that’s an automatic penalty… I started the game with it tucked, because that’s how I usually play, and then it must have just went back out on the bench, and then when I went out, (I) just forgot.”
Following the penalty, Zegras posted photos to his Instagram Story showing him wearing his jersey tucked in since childhood. Meanwhile, multiple members of the Flyers roster took warmups with their sweaters tucked in ahead of their preseason finale against the Washington Capitals.
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Coaches and Players Adjust to Equipment Crackdown
While the rule banning tucked jerseys is not new, the NHL distributed a video to teams and staff members highlighting equipment standards ahead of the season. Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery confirmed that visors and jerseys form the core of the league’s current emphasis.
“We’ll see how this plays out, but the league has sent a video to all the players and staff members on what the emphasis is going to be this year, and that is basically the whole video,” Carbery said. He added that if a player ignores a preliminary warning, bench staff will intervene to avoid shorthanded situations. Capitals prospect Lynden Lakovic also drew an illegal equipment penalty earlier in the preseason for his visor.
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Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl acknowledged he will need to alter his habits under the policy. Speaking to The Athletic’s Janson Duench, Draisaitl noted, “It’s not anything I’m gonna lose sleep over, to be honest with you, but it’s an interesting rule.” Zegras and Draisaitl join a list of prominent stars who have regularly played with portions of their jerseys tucked, including Alex Ovechkin, William Nylander, Evgeni Malkin, Clayton Keller, and Matvei Michkov.
Historical Context and Commercial Real Estate on Sweaters
The league previously attempted to eliminate jersey tucks in 2013, a push that Ovechkin criticized at the time as “kind of stupid” before enforcement faded within months. TSN’s Bryan Hayes suggested the current return to strict rules connects directly to upcoming commercial plans for team sweaters.
“It obviously is about money,” Hayes said. “They’re selling real estate on jerseys. Companies are paying a lot of money to get their name on it, and that’s what is coming up. It will be sold at some point. My understanding is that they’re going to keep selling real estate on the jerseys, and you can’t sell it at the top dollar if players are going to hide it because companies are going to say, ‘What the hell is going on? Why would I give you all that money if I can’t even see my company?'”
Equipment Check Facts: According to reports from Sportsnet, referees issue one warning for equipment infractions before assessing a two-minute minor penalty, and Elliotte Friedman notes that further infractions can lead to a misconduct.
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Common Questions About NHL Uniform Rules
Are players allowed to tuck their jerseys into their pants?
No. The NHL is strictly enforcing a rule that prohibits players from tucking their jerseys into their pants at the start of a shift.
What happens if a player’s jersey rides up during play?
According to league guidelines, no warning or penalty is issued if a jersey rides up naturally during the course of play, provided it starts the shift untucked.
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What penalties are assessed for equipment violations?
Referees give a single warning before assessing a two-minute minor penalty for improperly wearing equipment, with subsequent infractions carrying the risk of a misconduct.
Which equipment pieces are included in the crackdown?
The NHL’s enforcement emphasis specifically targets tucked jerseys, tilted visors, and the proper wear of helmets and neckguards.
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