It is an annual event for New York Islanders’ goalie, Robin Lehner, who sharpens his skates once a year before the preseason games in the summer. Throughout the NHL season, he maintains the blade using a skate tool every few weeks.
Lehner, standing at 6-foot-4 and a new free agent, prefers his skates to have no sharp edges. He relies heavily on his toes and values smooth shuffling without any resistance.
St. Louis Blues’ Jake Allen sharpens his skates by half an inch twice a week on average, necessitating a blade change every two weeks. Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck opts for a sharp 3/8 inch edge, replacing it almost every other day. The goalie, recently switching to one-piece skates, finds them more structurally sound on the ice due to the absence of rivets.
In contrast, Minnesota Wild’s Devan Dubnyk prefers to sharpen his blades before each game. Lehner acknowledges his unique preference for dull skate blades and how it benefits the equipment managers by reducing the frequency of sharpening sessions.
