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Cool, instead of adult league players buying equipment to be like the pros, teams and companies are downgrading equipment to be like adult league players. Guys, we are finally ahead of the curve! Can't wait until the winter classic jerseys are just each guy bringing a dark and a light, and it's the guys and white jerseys and yellow jerseys against the guys in black jerseys and blue jerseys.

Yeah, what a disrespectful clown: Ho-Sang has been the subject of social-media crticism for choosing No. 66. The 21-year-old, who made his NHL debut on March 2, told Newsday earlier this month that he wears it as a tribute to Lemieux and would consider changing it if asked. He told the Post-Gazette on Thursday that it's more than Lemieux's on-ice success he wants to honor. "You look at the [Mario Lemieux] Foundation he's created for cancer patients and in retrospect what happened to him in his career and how he got cancer and dealt with that," he said. "He fought and continues to fight for other people. He thinks outside himself. For me, that's a man worth looking up to. That's why I wear the number. That's the type of guy who's behind that number, and that's what's so inspiring for me, you know."

Are strap colors mandated by all teams? I remember on the Bruins a few years ago Savard and Ference wore black loops and straps on the white away helmet, and everyone else had white. (I was at the Pittsburgh game where Savard got hit by Cooke, and I couldn't see his number, but I saw the helmet on the ice while trainers were tending to him. It was weird and conflicting to know it was one of them hurt, but not know who.)

You can typically easily fixe a popped eyelet. Breaking those injection lacing often means jerry rigging some weird lace set up which means the cool kids make fun of you, or buying new skates. I wonder why Bauer would put that feature on skates...

Can you talk a little about how long you had your original skates, and how many hours you put on them before they broke? Im REALLY intrigued by these skates, but a failed rivet in a tendon guard leading to new skates is eyebrow raising. This thread seems full of people mentioning construction and quality issues, but people kind of bend over backwards to excuse them. I cant tell if the skates are THAT GOOD, or if there's cognitive/emotional bias where people want to like the expensive skates they bought, so they overlook the flaws.

Last time I checked, lace locks were kind of hard to get for a reasonable price. Why are people excited about getting rid of these? Was there a disadvantage to having lacelocks and pumps on skates? If you owned the product, I I don't think either affected usage or quality, and if you didn't own them, who cares?

Buy whatevever you want that makes you happy. I think for a lot of people the illusion that "I'm getting an ultra high end Bauer prototype graphicless stick that was never released because it is too durable and shoots too hard," is more powerful than the truth that there are multiple high-end sticks on every internet retailer webpage right now in a variety of curves and flexes for about $120.

If you're spending $100 to buy ABHS or whatever dubious origin stick online, why not spend $100 on a stick from an actual hockey company? If your willing to spend up to $120 like you said, you can easily get last year's (last quarter's?) top of the line or 2nd tier for that price. For instance, go buy the True sticks they're blowing out on every site. You're doing it wrong.

Dear Easton, I got a garbage sharpening job on my M8s, so I went back to my older skates (CCM CLs) until it was fixed. I like the fit and feel of the "traditional" skate so much better. I noticed the negavite space in the toes and in a boot a little bit when I was dressing, but once I was on the ice, I didn't notice at all. Its been a fun dalliance with the Makos, but deep down, I know what my heart wants. I just can't keep doing this, it's not right. I'm going back to regular skates. They may not be sexy and sleek, but they are comfortable and reliable, and we have something together that I don't think the Makos can give me. It's over.

Does anyone know the stock profile on M8s? (I assume the whole line is the same) I felt a little off in my first skate, but I wasn't sure if it was the length of the profile, the pitch, or that I got them sharpened on 12" ROH, rather than my usual FBV 100/50. I've been skating on a 8'/13' profile for a few years. It felt like when I stopped, it would bite more than I expected. It could have actually been biting more because of the different sharpen, or it could have just felt like it because of the other changes. Any ideas or diagnosis are appreciated!

No 8.5s left. "Just like the time I could have met Mr. T at the mall. The entire day, I kept saying, "I'll go a little later, I'll go a little later..." And when I got there, they told me he just left. And when I asked the mall guy if he'll ever come back again, he said he didn't know. Well, I'm never going to let something like that happen again!"

I currently have U+CLs, size 8.5. Anyone know how they would compare to M8 sizing?

JR, You say they don't feel like any other CCM skate. Is there some other skate you would compare them to? What about the feel/experience makes them so different from other CCMs?

Isn't Anderson in more or less the same position Bernier was when he came over?

A) why is this the case? Just because guys are used to the more traditional set up? B) if pros are more apt to opt for the lower model, why would us mere mortals go for the super line?

I think a lot of the success of companies like Tron and All Black Hockey comes from the fact that people believe they are getting "ghost shift" sticks. They imply just enough with similar paint jobs and tech descriptions, and consumers connect the dots. A lot of people want to believe they have some sort of connection to get a top end new model stick for $100 or whatever. They like the idea of getting a deal as much as they like having a good stick, and the concept of a vaguely shady deal makes it all the more intriguing.

When you suggest putting tape on the blade, where do you put it? Just on the long main part in the middle? Or try to put some on the male end of the locking mechanism. Many friend has had his x100s for about 10 months, and is getting a wiggle. Adult league, 3-4 nights a week, so he's not playing some crazy competitive level and doing a ton of hard stops and starts in a practice. If I were looking at new skates, and two brands fit me to the same degree, I think these holder issues might be enough to push me to another brand.

Slightly off topic, but I really hope this is never the case on this board.

An anticipated Easton skate beset by delays? Who would have thought...

Colin Wilson had some rivet issues the other night in Makos...

Is it possible to set a function where this is an automatic reply anytime someone asks if they should buy anything from Tron?

That's interesting, especially because of all the rumors you hear about "my friend's uncle knows this guy who made Crosby's Graf skates look like Reeboks," or "those Bauer sticks are actually warrior sticks underneath." But, that is an actual example one one brands equipment being modified to look like another. I wonder what the backstory on those is.

The lightest and most expensive.

It's funny to me how people with proselytize for VH to almost no end, but then readily acknowledge things like "they should ship with a bottle of super glue" or whatever other small repairs you have to make. I know build quality isn't the be-all end-all of equipment choice, and that all skates need repairs over time, but for being custom skates, it seems like people have to tinker with these and awful lot.