The early reviews are in, and the new Plexiglass at the Bell Centre is earning raves.
Montreal Canadiens forward Michael Cammalleri, one of the main agitators in having the old tempered glass rink side protection system replaced, was effusive with his compliments after the Habs dropped a 6-3 decision to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
“The shock absorption is really good, it gives you a lot of confidence,” he said. “Hats off to (Habs owner) Geoff (Molson) and his initiative.”
Cammalleri was a member of the joint league and NHL Players’ Association competition committee this past summer when they analyzed the new product and likened it to going from “a brick wall” to bouncing off ropes in a boxing ring.
“We’ve gone from having probably the most dangerous boards in the league to the least dangerous,” he said.
Cammalleri was among the early critics of the former glass, speaking out even before the fateful night where teammate Max Pacioretty’s head bounced off a fixed stanchion after a hit from Boston’s Zdeno Chara.
The plan to replace the Bell Centre glass was in motion by then, but not completed until this past weekend.
The new Plexiglass is a plastic composite, and features a new stanchion structure in the benches, and spring-loaded, curved panels at each end.
The Canadiens’ back-up goaltender and training staff are no longer sheltered by a glass bay - nor are the ice-level television analysts.
The system employed at the Bell Centre isn’t entirely new, versions exist in several NHL cities, but the stanchions in Montreal are translucent and the panels themselves are covered with a removable film like a car racer’s visor.
The players didn’t get to see their renovated home until just before their pre-season opener on Tuesday, but it didn’t take them long to get used to it.
According to Cammalleri, it’s a little slower on rim-arounds, and pucks are less likely to ping back out into the slot on shots that go wide of the net.
There may even be a side benefit to the owner’s old family business - Cammalleri jokingly predicted a modest spike in beer revenues because of pints knocked over by the swaying Plexiglass.
“Geoff’s always thinking,” he said.
