PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras was the first preseason victim of the NHL's version of the tuck rule.
Zegras was given a two-minute minor penalty for delay of game in the Flyers' 2-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night for “improperly wearing equipment.”
Zegras' fashion faux pas was having his jersey tucked into the back of his pants.
The NHL is cracking down this season on how players wear equipment, including jerseys,
neck guards, visors and helmets.
Jerseys are required to be untucked at the start of a player’s shift and a warning is expected to be given before a penalty is assessed.
“My jersey was tucked in before the shift,” Zegras said. “So after a warning, they said that's an automatic penalty. I started the game obviously with it tucked because that's how I usually play.”
According to the NHL website scoutingtherefs.com, the last tucked jersey penalties on record came in 2013.
Zegras signed a four-year extension with the Flyers in the offseason with an average annual value of $9.125 million. Zegras had a career-high 26 goals and 67 points last season, the second most on the team. He added two goals and four assists in the playoffs.
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