Kgbeast

Got a little word from Vaughn. Expect an influx of Graf skates to some of the retailers within next few days. Focus is on PeakSpeed line, but also old favorites 705, 709, and 735 models. Vaughn is diving in this venture not only with distribution agreements, but also production and R&D plans. We might not see sticks and gloves, but we should see competitive quality made skates, exceptional customer service, and a pro shop. Only time will tell how good and successful the above will be, but both Graf and Vaughn appear to be pretty excited and optimistic.

Have you tried the http://www.espn.com/watchespn/ I know I had to activate it for my Roku and Android Phone app by loging in to my Satelite provider, but I do not remember doing that for my windows and linux laptops.

Got one more update from Swiss. They are gearing up to resume production of PeakSpeed line. Not only in USA, but they also plan to introduce it in European market as soon as October. It can be just PK7700 at first. Not sure about sticks and stuff. NA market should see a bit more of PeakSpeed I am expecting. Just want to clarify, I do understand that most of the board has turned away from this brand, I am posting for a couple of people who is still open to the idea of giving Graf another stab.

I am expecting to receive PK3300 tomorrow or Tuesday. Will come back here with my observations and comments.

This is another pre-tournament exhibition game that while was not a playoff finals all out, but much more than youd expect from an exhibition game. Both teams lacked deffence, but goalies were exceptional especially Bobrovski. Physical game with obvious desire to win. Team Russia looks very strong offensively, but if they do not get their deffence tighten up, I do not think they will be able to get the redemption they are after.

Just start watching the game on Roku WatchESPN.... Pregame time is quite a spectacle. Also it looks like olympic size arena. Will see how the game goes

Really enjoyed the game. Lots of talent, lots of heart. Watching this is as if watching a Stanley Cup playoffs. Carrey Price started a bit unfocused, but had some good saves. Quick is at the top of his game and in my opinion is the reason USA took this win. Canada outshot USA by a factor of 2. Quick has seeing lots of action, and let in just one goal. Reminded me Tretyak in 76 summit series against Canada. Great deffence from Canada which basically left Carrey Price untested comparing to Quicks game. Awesome game in my opinion, two top teams for sure.

I thought they did pretty good. Team NA is much deeper team though.

Management comes and goes... the management you referring to is gone now. I have noticed it as well. The clearances have a lot to do with it no doubt, but the brand recognition and respect is what makes people buy. if it was a clearance on Bob's Hockey skate brand, there would be no uptick. Actually, I have not seeing much uptick in Eastons that been on clearance as well. I am actually quite surprised with that come to think of it.

Every brand has at least one disapointed customer... I am not saying it is for everyone. I have owned 3 pairs of Graf skates and have not noticed shoddy workmanship in any of them. Will see if anything shoddy pops up on the pair of peakspeeds I should receive later this or earlier next week.

I agree with this except for need to ditch Graf name. Not sure why that would be necessary as the name is pretty solid and is well regarded. Agree with the point about bringing more value for lesser price tag. I think they did attempt that with peakspeed line. It is very conservative looking line, but have some awesome features from top to the bottom of the line and especially for junior and youth. Features such as lined box, moldable footbeds, moldable quarter, replaceable blades, flexible tendon guard, stay in place tongue. It also is one of the lightest lines if not the lightest. And it is priced cheaper than the comparable B/C. I think they started getting on the right track, just perhaps a little late. I also agree that it is in the retailers interest for these little brands to just to go away, but it is not in the consumers best interest. More competition means more value for the consumers buck and more incentive for the manufacturers to innovate and remain properly sized for the available market.

Not at all trying to make it seam as if EVERY retail (or non retail for that matter) customer wants Graf. I just think that perhaps 15%-20% would not mind to see what Graf can offer. This thread has many posts where members expressed some love towards the brand, I just put some updates for them.

My opinion is based on the assumption that someone like Carey Price would have a custom fit skate from Graf as well, which i'd suspect would fit as good as the VH he got now. If I am wrong, then yes, I would not expect him to go back, quite agree.

Carey Price appears to be a pretty die-hard Graf goalie, even with VH, he still keeps Graf cowlings. It is quite possible, he will go back to Graf if it becomes a solid brand. That said, with the collapse of Graf Canada, pros, goalies and players, who was wearing Grafs have switched mostly to VH and quite likely, without an endorsement, most of them will not go back to Graf anytime soon. That said, the new generation and non-pro goalies might flack over resurrected brand. I just see that both Graf and Vaughn are in decline, and this union might be just what both of them need to get back in the game in a significant way.

Yep.... Vaughn have not been able to secure much of a space in the goalie skates market. This could be a great opportunity for them now. Bauer is kind of in trouble, and Graf has a very solid reputation in goalie skate circuits. Vaughn has pretty solid protective gear "legacy" and Graf has the skates, seems to me like a match made to success. Other Graf product which is undervalued I think, is their underwear. Obviously, their footbeds and laces are pretty well regarded products and should move nicely if they become solidly available. As for the players skates, they do need to do some catching up although their G75 range is pretty nice. It can be used by Graf philosophy indoctrinated skater who wants to have more ankle articulation as well as the ski-booter for who they have G75-HI-EXTRASTIFF option, which probably can "cast" your leg better than any other skate on the market I think, their sticks got some traction as well, but they really need to work on their endorsement skills and try to capitalize of PeakSpeed development as there are some good nuggets in there. To me, all this is a good opportunity and timing for Vaughn to become a solid competitor to CCM and Bauer and normalize the market a little bit. This also can put Graf in much better standing in Europe if the partnership is mutual.

Got a line from Swiss. Looks like they are restarting the distribution through Vaugh Hockey in USA and in Canada. As of now, no mention of Graf on Vaughns website, but they say it is possible to contact and inquire about Graf gear from Vaughn already. It does not look like there are any plans of resuming PeakSpeed line, but who knows. It should be possible however to order anything that Graf Switzerland is currently producing. Who knows, maybe a few months from now, you will be able to get Vaughn players skates with "designed by Graf" on them... We shall see. Just as a disclaimer, I have not contacted Vaughn to verify any if this. If you know more, please reply.

When I read play-dough blurb in here before, I was wondering if that is an exaggeration... I guess it is. As for pencil test, Mako are shallow fit (similar to jetspeed skates) based on Hockey Giant fit table, but I think you are right about hard tongue, it should be a problem. How narrow are they and they are, did baking addressed that?

Lol... of course store bought skates will be ill fitting, after all they are made for sausage party characters, not people. Right?

Toebox is most likely a premanufactured part and would have a generic fit. My toe is 5mm longer than what you show which makes me get 1/2 size larger boot and it looks even more out of fit. Your looks pretty perfect.

Did you try some really basic insoles that have no arch support? Or perhaps no insoles at all? If not, try no insoles and see. If it works, get some basic insoles. You can get "Graf Anatomical Footbed". I think Monkey has them for $9. These are great as they cover the rivets really well and support the heel nicely. As far as the basic insoles go, these are probably the smartest design... sometime less is more.

Looking at the spec, these are pretty nice. 7700 are probably the lightest hockey skates on the market with 780g including the steel. Also the runner is profiled 10' instead of usual 11'+. Moldable footbed is kind of a must on this level and it is nice that they have it all the way down to pretty inexpensive 2200 model, Asymmetrical tong , lined toe box are classy touches as well. One thing I always admired about Graf is that even the lowest end skates and youth skates still have the same attention to comfort and features. This is no different - even the bottom skates still have lined toebox and are heat moldable. Pretty adorable touch on youth size as PK7700 comes with Cobra 5000 holder and replaceable runners... that's a 10Y size... My 5-years old daughter wears 12Y. This is a bit overboard for someone who will grow out of the skates before 3rd sharpening :). The product has so much soul in it, it should be able to make babies! I truly hope that Graf can get back on their feet.

Not sure about that. I did not see any PeakSpeed skates at TH... Monkey has models from top of the line at nearing $800 per pair to low level at $99. They also have 30% off online coupon. They have those in pretty much all sizes as well and under regular, money back return policy. It looks like a new stock to me... but who knows

Graf PeakSpeed is now at hockeymonkey.com

That sucks... You need something that pushes their feet up in the arches to counter pronation. Carbon insoles are not intended to do that. Greens are the highest arch profile from Superfeet. I think the sales rep was pointing you in the right direction. Obviously, it also would be good to go see a podiatrist doc so he can get you some pointers on what should be done. Other high arch insoles are available from Spenco and few others. Usually, they all cost in $45-$50 range.

Do the 10-13 years old need any special insoles unless they have feet problems?