Style of the game

jr
Posts: 141
Joined: Wed Mar 20, 2002 5:25 am

Style of the game

Post by jr » Wed Jan 01, 2003 8:58 pm

Growing up I loved watching Hockey Night in Canada and the NHL game. Now I only occasionally watch because it's become a different game. Clutch, grab, hook, slash, interfere, slow down the better players. Is this better for the game?<br><br>It has filtered down to the college level and high school. In order to win most teams have to do at least some of it. Is this a good way to sell our beloved game?<br><br>I love a hard hitting, fast paced game, that is played by the rule book. Many today believe what I mentioned above is good defense and physical play. I would rather the refs called all the interference and other stuff. If that was done the game would become everything it was intended to be. <p></p><i></i>

HighSchoolFan
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 9:12 pm

Re: Style of the game

Post by HighSchoolFan » Wed Jan 01, 2003 9:12 pm

jr - Im gonna have to say I agree with you on this topic. I am a big fan of finesse play. I like to see the skills of players not how well they can hack. I think that is how hockey should be played - the finesse way. <p></p><i></i>

snaphock25
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2002 8:16 pm

Re: Style of the game

Post by snaphock25 » Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:06 am

three words- olympic sized ice<br><br>This would solve all those problems and make a faster pace more finesse game. Look at how Sweden played in the last Olympics. It was awesome to watch. I believe that the NHL would be just like this if they were to institute Olympic ice. Yet due to TV with cameras and so forth, it will never happen. b/c tv=money. Money rules everything now. <p></p><i></i>

The hockeywriter
Posts: 90
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2002 5:35 pm

Re: Style of the game

Post by The hockeywriter » Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:22 am

I also think that the NHL scouts are way to in to size i mean a guy who has like 60 points as a defenseman he was 5'10 so they were wondering if he could do it yet a guy who is 6'2 and slow as dirt they are drewlling over i dont get it i mean what happened to speed it is all about the physiaclly stuff i just dont understand why the NHL is allowing it's self to become a thug league by the way they keep drafting. <p></p><i></i>

centerman
Posts: 156
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2002 6:55 am

olympic

Post by centerman » Thu Jan 02, 2003 5:45 am

Some experts will tell you that Olympic ice slows the game down because there is more room to create and slow the tempo down. It still comes down to the style that is played. I to would love to see all the stick work and so forth enforced. It won't come from refs, because they call the game the way the powers that be want it enforced.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

the big t
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2002 9:18 pm

Re: Style of the game

Post by the big t » Thu Jan 02, 2003 8:54 am

as a huge nhl fan i have to ask, what game are you guys watching. the nhl this season has been wonderful. referees are cracking down on the clutch and grab styles that have been slowing the game down. there was even a special piece on cbc television two weeks ago where many players (none of the stars mind you) are complaining because there have been so many power plays this season and an increase in diving. check the ice time logs in the league, the skilled players on every team have more minutes than previous years. if the nhl can hold the line and enforce the rules through out the season and the playoffs eventually you will see the smaller skilled player reemerge from the nhl ashes.<br><br>the minnesota wild are benefitting directly from the tighter rules enforcement. they are young and skilled. move the puck and move. the brad browns of the league are hanging on by their collective finger nails because they are too big and slow to keep up to the pace. meanwhile skilled d-men like schultz and kuba are finding more and more ice time and more and more open ice to play on. it's great, the best players in the world with more time to create plays. <br><br>college, high school and even youth leagues should follow the nhl lead, crack down on interference. let the little guy handle the puck and create chances, it's a far better game that way. <br><br>next time you feel like ripping the nhl watch a game in person. sorry high school hockey is KID hockey no matter how you slice it. <p></p><i></i>

joe lulic
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 1:30 pm

The style

Post by joe lulic » Thu Jan 02, 2003 10:30 am

I agree with the big T. Compared to 20 years ago, the game has improved a lot. I remember when every team had 2-3 goons who would get into 1-2 fights every night. At times, it was the WWF on ice. Now, with the Europeans in the league and the vast improvement of the North American players, the game is much better and much more enjoyable to watch. Everybody can skate and the skill level and speed of the game has gone way up. I think that the Wild timed it beautifully. They came into the league at atime when it has never been better from a pure quality of play standpoint. <p></p><i></i>

Hammy
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 11:27 am

Re: The style

Post by Hammy » Thu Jan 02, 2003 11:27 am

The NHL game is better than 20 years ago? Funny but about 15 to 20 years ago, we had a ton of scoring in the NHL and the game was wide open and entertaining. You think that aspect is better now? I couldn't disagree with a statement any more than that one. <br><br>The speed and size of guys may have gotten better because of advances in training but I don't agree that the puck skills and creativity has gotten better. I saw MUCH better skills and creativity back in the 80s than I see these days.<br><br>Just listen to a guy like Lemieux who says the interference and clutch and grab has worsened the game in the past decade (part of that is him whining but there is a lot of truth in it). I don't deny that the game has opened up a little more this year but even with that, it isn't even close to how it was back in the 80s when you saw a decent number of guys hit the 50 goal mark and surpass 100 points. <br><br>Pro hockey was A LOT more entertaining back in the 80s than it is now. When I think back to growing up in the era of Gretzky, Dionne, Lemieux, etc. and compare it to now.... it isn't even close. I feel sorry for the youth of today having to grow up watching an NHL product like it has been. They don't know what they missed out on (unless they see highlight reels). <p></p><i></i>

doeislandguy
Posts: 22
Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:16 pm

NHL is getting better -

Post by doeislandguy » Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:16 pm

I have been pleasantly surprised with the calls being made at the pro and college level. The games are a lot better than they used to be even as recently as last season. The refs at the high school level, however, are getting worse. Two of the three levels have improved, but the level with the most participants suffers from poor and/or inconsistent officiating. Does that make sense? I don't blame players for getting the wrong idea either. The HS Refs need to crack down on the slashes and hooks big time. I hope the second half of this season is called a lot tighter than the first. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

petey1321
Posts: 139
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2002 2:10 am

Re: NHL is getting better -

Post by petey1321 » Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:29 pm

I think one of the biggest reasons that you've seen scoring totals decline from earlier levels is the improvement in goaltending. It was like the goalies were obsessed with standing up and kicking at the puck. Nowadays goalies are much better trained and prepared, and that is part of why we haven't seen (and probably will never see) an 80 goal scorer lately. <p></p><i></i>

joe lulic
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 1:30 pm

Style

Post by joe lulic » Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:57 pm

I agree that the league may lack a lot of star quailty these days. The last time I looked the top 5 in scoring were Europeans who arent very well known, yet. A Gretzky doesnt come along every day. But the over all product is better than ever. I agree with Petey on the goaltending. Some of these guys are just walls. The other reasons are lack of superstars and improved overall quality of the player. For example,this Matt Johnson guy for the Wild is their version of the "enforcer". He is not a bad player at all. <p></p><i></i>

jr
Posts: 141
Joined: Wed Mar 20, 2002 5:25 am

nhl

Post by jr » Thu Jan 02, 2003 8:11 pm

I don't dispute the players are better than ever today. Gretzky has even said because of the style he would have trouble putting up those types of numbers.<br><br>My main point was that it has filtered down to the amateur level. To me it's pretty obvious. The talent is better than ever, but not the product. Coaches today teach interference, clutch, grab, use of stick, and so on, because they have to in order to compete. <p></p><i></i>

joe lulic
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 1:30 pm

NHL style

Post by joe lulic » Thu Jan 02, 2003 9:24 pm

I agree that there is way too much leeway given the younger players by the refs. The stick work is bad as is the holding but what really gets me is the fists coming up on a check. That used to be roughing. They should allow body checking with the body, hips and shoulders, not clenched fists. But it depends on what you are used to or what you were raised on. I used to think the NHL was All Star wrestling on ice. It has made dramatic improvements since then. I frst started watching the NHL when the North Stars came. They had about 3 guys who had some skill. They had defensemen who could barley skate. Evrybody can play now. <p></p><i></i>

Stang Hockey
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2002 3:43 pm

johnson

Post by Stang Hockey » Thu Jan 02, 2003 9:50 pm

I'm gonna have to disagree with whoever said Johnson was not a bad player. Have you ever seen him skate? He's notched about 1 or 2 points on the year. However, he has about double the penalty minutes than the next guy on the list. Last game I saw, he got into 2 fights and had another penalty too. <p></p><i></i>

petey1321
Posts: 139
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2002 2:10 am

Re: johnson

Post by petey1321 » Thu Jan 02, 2003 10:00 pm

Is there any question anymore that Jacques Lemaire is just sticking it to the league that shuns him by making Matt Johnson the captain? People like to cry and whine about the trap and all that, and about how people using the trap play boring hockey and clutch and grab and all that, but the Wild, using the prototypical trap are succeeding with the crackdown on extra curricular. <br><br>I bet Jacques is just loving that, and frankly, so am I. I think Matt Johnson as captain is one of the coolest things ever. <p></p><i></i>

doeislandguy
Posts: 22
Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:16 pm

Stang Hockey

Post by doeislandguy » Thu Jan 02, 2003 10:07 pm

Stanger - I'm sure Johnson is not as fluid on his skates as he'd like, but his role on the team is important never-the-less. He has fought LaRoque of Edmonton twice tonight and was the captain of the Wild last month. I'm sure if you had the opportunity to play pro hockey, you'd do anything in your power play with the big club. The Wild is a young team with a couple of enforcer types, but their team is build around speed and skills. The rest of the NHL is finding out that they are for real. Does the name Willie Plett ring a bell? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

Hammy
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 11:27 am

Plett

Post by Hammy » Thu Jan 02, 2003 10:22 pm

Just to make a point... Plett may have been an enforcer like Johnson is but Plett scored over 200 goals in his career and had a number of 20+ goal seasons in the NHL (I think he had one year close to 40 goals). <br><br>In Plett's days, his stats weren't bad but they wasn't great either. Put those kinds of stats up these days and people would consider that as a pretty good goal scorer.<br><br>As for goaltending being a big reason for reduced goals these days, I don't think goaltending has gotten so significantly better than the goals are that far down. I think it is a matter of a league that got bogged down in teams playing a defensive system as well as less creative hockey players. <p></p><i></i>

Stang Hockey
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2002 3:43 pm

johnson

Post by Stang Hockey » Fri Jan 03, 2003 12:09 am

<br>Doe,<br>I was referring to joe lulic's comment that Johnson was not a bad player. I never said Johnson was not important to the team, he has to protect guys like Gaborik. All I was saying is, fundamentally, he is a verry bad player. <p></p><i></i>

joe lulic
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 1:30 pm

NHL and skill

Post by joe lulic » Fri Jan 03, 2003 9:16 am

I didnt say Johnson was a good player. I dont understand the comments that are made all the time about the "lack of skill" today. I see a lot of guys with skill. I see great skating and excellent speed shown by players with size. I dont see guys walking around defensemen as much any more;I dont see guys weaving thru the opposition like they were cones any more but isnt that because now everyboby can skate and the skilled players cant get away with it anymore? I have seen quite a few high school games; a couple of Wild games; and a couple of Gopher games this year so far. I think all levels have more skilled players than ever before.<br> <p></p><i></i>

Mitch Hawker
Site Admin
Posts: 370
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Re: NHL and skill

Post by Mitch Hawker » Fri Feb 07, 2003 3:30 pm

I have heard Gretzky say that the biggest difference in the NHL now vs. when he came into the league is that the overall average skill level and skating ability is much higher now. <br><br>I believe that he specifically mentioned the Europeans. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub33.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUser ... wker>Mitch Hawker</A> at: 2/7/03 3:31:34 pm<br></i>

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