Leaderboard

I have a custom and a retail. I don't notice the difference in weight, except that one has a visor vs a cage. If I had to guess, I would think the custom is slightly heavier, cause it has a more dense 3d lattice vs the retail version. I would highly recommend the custom though over the retail, cause for the price difference, the custom is a much better helmet imho.

Like has been pointed out, at this point it’s not really about tech, it’s about a company trying take over share in a relatively fixed size market. And when you look at the TAM/SAM/SOM, there’s probably not a lot of room there. The video said CCM came in and basically forced them out of some markets. It’s a huge uphill battle, probably more akin to scaling a cliff face under fire.

If Graf started using more modern tech and materials, that would likely have to redesign their boots. You can't just replace the leather with carbon fiber and expect it to fit and feel the same but lighter and more durable. There's more too that than swapping materials. I don't see graf ever evolving to the level of technology as Bauer true and ccm. They have a market in Europe and it'll probably just stay that way. I'm assuming they also don't have the size and money for the R/D as well.

Cranky adults like us who are irrelevant don’t like the bright bold colors. Kids who buy new skates every year do. Youth tastes 100% drive the aesthetic designs, and that’s pretty much guarantees to be the opposite of what older players like. Just wait 20 years and all black skates will come back and then the 30-40 year olds on here will be complaining how modern skates these don’t have giant streaks of color on them.

Sure, I'll do that. Where are the Skatscribe machines in Minnesota?

The issue is Graf skates are the technological equivalent to a dinosaur. If they offered the same performance as other brands, we would see players of all levels using them more often. I had Graf skates when I was young and played prep at Shattuck and in the EJHL/ECHL. I loved those skates, and they worked well for me back then, but I assume if I wore them now, I would not have the same impression.

How are the sticks breaking? Off a faceoff? When shooting? When battling in the corner? Thats a significant number of sticks to break, which leads me to believe its not a defect of the product but instead associated with his style of play or position.

What makes you say talent is "mostly a myth?" I consider it one of the "huge amounts of luck" factors.

Per the chart 95/75 is 3/8-1/2ish. I'd suggest starting with a 3/8 Fire. Anything higher won't have the bite he's used to. The 1/2 Fire will feel a lot like a 3/4 ROH.

After my first few skates I hated them, had them on ebay 2 times but wasn't willing to lose $500 after skating on them 2 times. Here are a few things I found. my last vapors were 8.5D, my new Hyperlite's are 8.0D. the toe box is larger, I had to insert a cut foot bed in the front to take up the volume lacing to the top offered zero flex (maybe this will change once really broke in. it made me feel like I was always going to fall back.) I thought there was no way around the feeling of always falling backwards until I read the thread "why you shouldn't lace up tight" I started lacing them down one and totally fixed the problem. During play I would lace them up loose to the top loose and would still have the same problem. Maybe this will change once I break them in....for $1k I hope so.