NHL shuts down longtime fan favorite tradition with new rule introduction for the 2026-27 season
Photo credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
The new NHL season is rapidly approaching and with a new season comes rule changes including the end of a fan favorite tradition around the league.
The NHL is a league that is celebrated and beloved for its history dating back over 100 years to the first games in league history.
Throughout that history, the league has built several traditions and quirks that have become central to the game and made hockey standout from other sports.
One of those traditions is the introduction of the Emergency Backup Goaltender (EBUG).
The EBUG has always been a fan that is in attendance for the game and can be activated as an emergency goalie if the first two goalies are injured.
While rare several EBUGs have played in the NHL delivering iconic moments that have gone on to be remembered in hockey history.
The best of which to many was when Zamboni driver for the Toronto Maple Leafs David Ayers was thrust into a game for the Carolina Hurricanes against the team that employed him the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ayers would face several shots and backstop the Hurricanes to a shocking win.
Unfortunately, with a new rule change, this wonderful tradition will now come to an end for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
NHL shuts down classic NHL EBUG tradition with new rule
Earlier this summer, the NHL led by commissioner Gary Bettman announced several new rule changes including one to the EBUG section of the rulebook.
Now, each team will be allowed to carry a third professional goaltender as their EBUG.
Beginning in 2026-27, every team will have its own full-time emergency backup goalie who travels and practices with the club. That effectively ends the era of local amateurs being pulled into NHL games when both goalies are injured.
The player will not count against the roster limits or the salary cap but will be traveling with the NHL roster and practice with each individual club.
This also would eliminate any potential situations of bias involving an away team needing and EBUG that potentially existed in the past.
While moments like the one from David Ayers in Toronto are no longer possible the new EBUG system could give goaltenders on the fringe of a career a chance to have a shot at the NHL.
As the 2026-27 season kicks off we will potentially see the new EBUG system in place at some point and be able to determine which system is better for the game.
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