During the course of an average game, some players can lose as much as 5 to 8 pounds. This loss is mostly water, so players are concerned about making sure they keep enough fluids in their bodies. Goalies can lose as much weight as a forward or defenseman. The water bottle on top of the net has become a part of the game. Sharks Strength and Conditioning Coach, Steve Millard, discusses players' weight fluctuations during the year.
Some players lose more than just water.
Many players will lose weight during the course of the season. Injuries to teammates and large numbers of penalty killing situations gave the Sharks' captain more than his share of ice time. They gave Gill nutritional supplements to help him keep his body weight up. Apparently, losing that much weight indicates that a player is constantly having his system broken down and he is not recovering. In this situation, he is losing muscle mass and may be more susceptible to injury.