I have posted before about how the new integrated knee blocks on goalie pads (that Bauer introduced with the Stabilislide on Supreme Ultrasonics) cant actually have some negative characteristics and I haven’t found they are really necessary and produce a huge benefit. Bauer doubled down on this idea with the calf wings with a bracket added into them for increased stability. When I tested the Mach, I noticed pretty quickly that the calf plate would get in the way if you ever had to make a desperation save or landed not perfectly square on the ice.
I’ve called out issues of these integrated knee blocks previously and pointed out times where goals in the NHL occurred because the block stopped the pad from sealing all the way. I have actually seen more examples of Oettinger knee blocks getting in the way, but was only able to get an example from the clips below.
In the 2024 playoffs, you could get a glimpse of another issue the integrated knee and calf blocks can cause when Woll was making desperation plays around the net. While this didn’t lead to a goal, it quite obviously shows how the block was a hinderance in terms of movement and pad seal.
True is one of the few companies that doesn’t put a hinge or brace into the face of the pad to stiffen the knee blocks. It is something I called out in my reviews, and something I specifically mentioned I hope they continue to leave out. CCM had their own version of this, but they just used the foam on the sliding edge to lock everything in place, and it was less stiff than what other companies are doing.
Below is a great example of how Georgiev was able to recover off of a desperation play because of the flexibility of the knee block and calf wing on his True Catalyst PX3 goalie pads.
If the knee and calf wing were locked into the face of the pad, they wouldn’t have been able to flex to seal the ice and to allow the face of the pad to push forward into the proper position. With that locked in knee, Georgiev most likely wouldn’t have been able to recover into a proper butterfly without a significant adjustment because of the stiff blocks getting in the way during the over rotation.
The stiff knee blocks have a purpose, they help increase the longevity of the knee blocks by not allowing the wings to flex past 90 degrees of the pad face. Many people also report faster dropping time and more stability in the pad itself. But from my experience both of those can be achieved without locking the knee and calf in place. True Hzrdus PX4 pads are a good example of a pad with a LOT of stability when on the ice and they have a traditionally designed knee and calf wing.
These examples all show improper techniques, and some are from what happens when goalies have to scramble and do anything they can to make a save. But it is worth pointing out how the gear can affect these plays and make a difference. Hockey is a very fast sport, and not every save or play can be perfect and to expect that is foolish.
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