The SHL is going back to the basics. When the NHL was first introduced, the game was much simpler. There were no ads on the boards, no synthetic sticks, no massive goalie pads, heck, goalies didn't even wear face masks! This is what the SHL has decided to do, start out just like the NHL. All players will be provided the same 'equipment', which would consist of leather gloves, paper thin shin, knee and elbow pads. Only wooden sticks would be allowed, with the most minimal curves allowed. Helmets would be optional, but for goalies, only the old school Jacques Plante face mask would be allowed. Speaking of goalies, they would for sure have to adapt the most. The big pads that they wear today would basically be cut in half, they would have to work the hardest to get to their game where it was before the change. We wouldn't have to stay like this forever though, maybe ever season we could move up a decade, so in 10 season or so the game would get back to looking and playing like it does today.