The extinction of the big slapper

[Chadd 916]

Using a slapper on the drop, block and pray (I know it's an exaggeration) goalies can create a scoring chance off the rebound.

[Law Goalie 147]

Heh, the sad part is, that's not an exaggeration, in my opinion: it's the MO of most goalies these days. The funny part is, most of them don't care if they give up a scoring chance of a rebound: if they stop the first shot, their job is done.

There's a strange attitude these days that the job of a goalie is, primarily, not to be culpable for any goals allowed. 'Making saves' is almost a forgotten idea.

[bainsstatic 0]

It's ok guys, I'm bringing it back

[Flack38 0]

I think schemes play a part in this also, Defense and back checking are so much more structured now than it was in the past.

Players now are just bigger, stronger, faster and most importantly smarter. Its hard to work yourself enough free space to get the big slapper going. Players now just recover too fast, take up more room and are better at keeping players with big shots in bad shooting positions.

Someone had mentioned the Euro game. Over there we typically do have more time to let bigger shots go but we typically use our open space for indirect passing and gaining more offensive zone real estate for.... a shorter quicker more accurate shot.

[LkptTiger 1]

Seems to me that more and more goals are being scored by guys parked (or streaking) in front of the net who get their stick (or foot/leg) on a shot thrown in from the point. It is 1) much easier for the man planted just above the crease to tip a quick little wrister from the slot than it is to get a piece of a big slapper (because its a bit easier to see/read off of the stick and also because of #2) and 2) a bit easier for the shooter to put the puck in a spot where the man in front of the net can get his stick on the shot without too much trouble.

[DarkStar50 680]

There would be no shortages of blueline blasts if Al MacInnis were still playing today. Chris Pronger and Chris Chelios can still get off a slapper but now they shoot they way Paul Coffey did in his prime: the quick short backswing, never getting the stick above the waist on the backswing. Defensive zone coverage has been so well coached for positional play that the time and space for the big slapshot have been eliminated. The power play is just about the only opportunity for the point man to wind up but he is still looking for the down low pass leading to the backdoor play. The game has changed.

[chippa13 1844]

If the anything players of yesteryear had more balls, and this thread has nothing to do with the volume of shots getting through.

Wrong, it has everything with getting shots through.

[Sparty4 0]

I love the slapshot but I agree it is used less and less. I think it has to do with the game having changed a lot and not even just because of the rule changes. Players are bigger, stronger and faster than they were even 10-15 years ago so with the increase in the speed of the game comes less time take a big wind up. I allso think this factors into the reduction of scoring that the NHL has been complaining about for years. Solution... International sized ice surface, lock forechecking will be less effective, more room for the finesse players to wheel and deal... anyway I digress. Give me a few more feet at the blue and i'll bring back the slapper.