Brendan Bonello can name every goaltender to suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs over the last two decades.
The NHL has modernized its emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) system, requiring every team to employ dedicated backups who travel with the club and wear jersey No. 00. Goaltenders like Toronto's Brendan Bonello and Calgary's Dusty Nickel are receiving a second chance at their hockey aspirations under the revamped roster rule.
EBUGs are classified as team employees rather than NHLPA members, ensuring they do not count against the salary cap. The transition aims to close previous competitive loopholes while managing practice workloads and wear-and-tear for the league's primary starting and backup netminders throughout the grueling season.
Get the latest sports news and top stories from MySportsTab delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam. Just the latest sports news and updates.
