Calgary's Dusty Nickel among NHL's newly professionalized backup goalies

The NHL has moved to professionalize its emergency backup goaltender, or EBUG, position for the 2026-27 season, requiring all 32 teams to carry one on their roster. Calgary Flames emergency backup Dusty Nickel, 35, held the role for five seasons before it became an official, paid position, calling the change exciting for someone his age.

Under the new rules, EBUGs travel with their club, wear No. 00, and must meet strict eligibility limits: no prior NHL games under a standard contract, no more than 80 professional games total, and no pro action in the previous three seasons. They are classified as team employees, so they don't count against the salary cap and aren't part of the NHL Players' Association.

Previously, home teams had to scramble to supply an untrained emergency goalie if both clubs' netminders were hurt or sick during a game, a rule that produced the famous 2020 case of 42-year-old Toronto arena worker David Ayres backstopping a win for the Carolina Hurricanes. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the shift, agreed to with the players' association, addresses rising goaltender injuries even though no EBUG has played in a game since April 2023.

League figures including Islanders coach Pete DeBoer and Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen said the formalized role should also help the NHL's 64 starters and backups by giving them a dedicated extra body to absorb shots at practice, reducing wear on regular goaltenders over an 82-game season.