I sure miss the Original Six which made the NHL so unique. The NHL's expansion is what enabled certain teams to bring players such Dave Schulz and others better known for thuggery rather than skillful play. However, the expansion also led to the inclusion of European and Russian players which ultimately strengthened the League. Further, it stimulated expansion of club/scholastic/collegiate teams into the South, Southwest, and California which did not have hockey before. Thus, the League is not as much fun to me as it was in the old days. But expansion has probably been more beneficial to the League and to the game. Probably, though I am not entirely sure.
Drake Batherson hat trick leads way in 7-2 win to set up championship game on Friday against Sweden http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/canada-czech-semifinal-world-junior-1.4473778 *cough* Sorry, did I post something?
https://www.nhl.com/news/sweden-beats-united-states-in-world-juniors-semifinals/c-294657696 I was in a chat room discussing this game as well as Canada's win. The reason for the two outcomes was a clear as the sun on a hot summer day: the USA roster was filled with college players, Canada's team was filled with juniors. As with tennis, soccer, gymnastics, the vast majority of top level athletes do not attend college. Instead of wasting fours years pursuing a degree they will never use, they spend their young years in developmental leagues where practice time is not limited. By contrast, the NCAA severely limits practice time which slows down an athlete's development. If you watched both games yesterday, you would know that my Yanks wilted in the third period and gave up two short handed goals - this is virtually unheard of in the sport and clearly a sign of exhaustion. By contrast the Canadian players who played at junior levels rather than wasting their time in college excelled, showed excellent stamina and drive, and in the third period were as fresh as they were at the beginning of the game.
Interesting news for St Louis Blues fans ~ a return to the old retro uniforms: https://www.si.com/nhl/2018/08/26/st-louis-blues-third-jersey-heritage those vintage unis still look good
Capitals' Tom Wilson suspended 20 games by NHL for blindside hit Washington winger will also forfeit $1.26M US for illegal check on St. Louis Blues centre Oskar Sundqvist https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nh...uspended-20-games-for-blindside-hit-1.4849316 That was one mean, ugly hit on the back of the guy's neck. Clearly Wilson was trying to cause injury and well deserves a prolonged unpaid vacation from the league.
Leaf's win their opener in rather unimpressive fashion, except for the fact that we have lots of talent.
Ugh. This is why I hate the NHL sometimes (not all the time). You can knock someone's teeth in and give them as many concussions as you want, but a RFA hit costs them games... It's like no one ever played backyard hockey. I get it, I get it, it's "professional hockey". Still, let them ****ing play. IMO, there's no dirty hit unless a player takes their skate off and uses it as a weapon!
Back in the day, elbow pads were made of actual pads of material and were fairly soft. Today they are ballistic nylon or plastic and can be deadly weapons. Hitting somebody in the head with either your elbow pad or stick is not only cowardly, its extremely dangerous. Hitting from behind into the boards is another thing that can cause severe career ending injury. Getting those things outta the game are positive. OTOH, I think the elimination of fighting has increased the amount of spearing, slashing and crosschecking. There are a fairly large % of hockey players who wouldn't play the way they currently do if the instigator and third man in rules were dropped. Then again you start getting the problem with the goons making too big an impact on the game, which got pretty damn ridiculous back in the day. Today the hockey is way faster and played with a far higher skill level. I just miss a good scrap for a good reason. I didn't even mind Marchant's almost sucker punch on Ellers. PS. Happy Gilmore has nothing on Oggie Oglethorpe.
They did not eliminate fighting in the NHL. Fights usually occur when an ******* on one team is consistently taking cheap shots. Not necessarily to the same person, but other team mates. Then someone from the 'victimized' team will step up, ask the dude to fight, and they'll go at it. I just saw two fun ones at a preseason game
Sorry, I should have said the "virtual elimination" of fighting. Don't know how long you've been a fan, but I recall the days when there would be multiple fights a night. Lots of instigation and third man in. Now the role of "enforcer" no longer takes up a roster spot or two. And fighting is infrequent. There is a direct correlation between the increase in stick infractions and decrease in fighting. I love a good hockey scrap, but considering that the quality of hockey has so dramatically increased (skill and speed) I'll "suffer" in relative silence.
The game has become more technical. When I was a kid, we had an enforcer and when he was in the in sin bin, the other teams would try and take advantage. So we got another big D man to help out. Fights didn't last long in high school games. Refs did not allow them for the most part. They'd allow the intro to a fight, but once a helmet came off...it was over.
Yeah, back in the day, teams would load up. The leafs at one time had FIVE guys who couldn't skate but man could they fight and hit.
Nowadays it's about speed and technical play calls. Some people have no idea how important a faceoff inside the zone is- and winning it
Analytics has certainly changed both player evaluation and game plans in a major way. Arguable results sometimes but its way better than entirely subjective assessments. here's a great site for any and all public analytic data https://www.hockey-reference.com/analytics/
Thanks for posting. I believe that the rink should be larger given the talent, speed, and athleticism of these new generation players. I think that's part of the problem.
Ah yes the perennial argument about NHL vs Olympic size rinks. A couple acres more in the corners and behind the net certainly opens up things up, but speaking as an ex defenseman, I liked the closer quarters - easier to take out the opponent (only a tad but every little bit helps). Its really hard to evaluate since the only time we see NHL style hockey on olympic rinks is during the olympics and when you have the cream of the crop playing I think they could play on a postage stamp or a lake and it would still be awesome.
Fair point. I just think they have outgrown and are too fast-pace for the regulation size. Just my opinion
Yeah and I get your point entirely. Guys are WAY bigger and stronger than back in the day. Leafs have 2 guys under 6 feet tall. Back in my childhood Frank Mahovolich was a notable "big man" in the league and he was only 6-1 205. To confess I guess I'm just an old traditionalist. I luv me my Don Cherry.
I loved the Mario Lemieux generation. Some of the craziest and fun players to watch. I was just a kid but I was glued to every Gretzky or Lemieux game.
Lemieux missing half a season due to cancer, coming back and winning the scoring championship was one of the greatest athletic feats I ever witnessed. And I can't think of athlete in any team sport that was so far above EVERY other player in their sport than Gretzky. He wasn't just a little bit better than everyone else, he was a mile above.
Oh yes, that I agree with. He completely changed the game as far as how opposing teams manage their lines. When the Great One was on the ice, they had their best D and their fastest forwards- just to take on ONE guy! I still watch youtube videos of the Great One. Unreal.
And they still couldnt stop him. Doncha just luv when he set up office behind the net and it was a foot closer to the boards back then!
