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The Ottawa Senators’ newly signed goalie, Mike McKenna, has challenged the Twitterverse to design a new set of goal pads for him and the thread — running since Saturday — has turned into a fun primer on what goes into creating a “pair of pillows.”

“Design it, draw it, post it!” McKenna tweeted. “Doesn’t have to be perfect … some of the best ideas have been sketched out on napkins.”

“Not joking,” he said. “If someone designs and posts a set of pads in @Senators colors that I really like, we’ll have @BauerHockey clean it up and make it.”

McKenna revealed that he was looking for a black set and preferred symmetrical pads.

Ideas so far include a bifurcated Peace Tower and maple leaf and some 1990s nostalgia.

Along the way, McKenna explained that he didn’t buy into theories that pad colour or design could trick shooters, who have only split seconds to make shots and “not enough time to be fooled.”

And the reward – along with endless bragging rights – for the chosen design?

“Not sure, but maybe a used piece of gear when it’s aged out?” McKenna replied to one fan.