Buffalo may have a new problem to manage against the Canadiens and it involves Tage Thompson

The 2025-2026 NHL rulebook still carries Rule 10, and the blade curve limit remains three-quarters of an inch.

Thompson's stick has now become part of the Canadiens-Sabres chess match, not just a social-media argument.

The first post below asked when anyone last saw an NHL stick measurement. That's the whole point: the rule didn't vanish, the habit did.

Thompson's blade sits open enough that the visual alone invites a coach's challenge from Martin St-Louis.

The second post landed harder because it showed the rulebook page itself. That turns the debate from fan noise into a bench-management decision.

The risk is simple. If Montreal asks and the stick passes, the Canadiens take the minor. If it fails, Buffalo loses Thompson for 2 minutes and the stick is removed.

That's why coaches rarely touch this anymore. It's not about knowing the rule. It's about having the stomach to spend a penalty on being wrong.

Thompson gives St-Louis a real reason to think about it. He finished the regular season with 40 goals and 81 points, and Buffalo doesn't have another shooter who changes coverage the same way.

For Ruff, the concern is bigger than optics. Once opponents believe a blade is worth measuring, every late power play, offensive-zone draw, and one-goal third period becomes a threat.

The NHL doesn't need to invent anything here. The rule is already written, and the picture proves the measurement standard is still there.

Now the question is whether St-Louis uses it, or whether Thompson keeps playing with the most talked-about stick in the series.

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