Has the game changed with the gear?

[BK 0]

Over the past 20 years, technology has had a huge part in the development of hockey gear. Everything from carbon fiber sticks to skates that weigh less than most player's gloves 10 years ago.

Do you think that these changes in gear have affected the core of the game? For instance, do you believe that the use of one piece graphite sticks resulted in more goals? Do you think that the changes in materals in our protective gear have prevented injurys or even fatalities?

Where would the NHL today if the players used the exact same model gear as they did in 1990?

Discuss.

[TheBert 0]

While I appreciate the advances in protective gear, part of me wishes hockey sticks were still all wooden -- kind of like how baseball has kept wooden bats. Maybe then we'd have more emphasis on people using sticks with the correct length and lie, rather than the obsessing over blade curves and weight.

[MLSman 22]

It is hard to say that the equipment changes over the last 17-18 years have not contributed to the game.

I heard a real interesting statistic during the Rangers game last night: The average NHL player size is 6' 1" and 207 pounds. That is the tallest and the heaviest average ever recorded in the NHL.

I would say that, in order, the things that have changed the game:

1. The strike and the new CBA

2. The last three years or rule changes

3. The size and skill of NHL players

4. Advances in sports medicine

5. The equipment

There are many more factors, but I think the change in equipment since 1990 has not been as substantial as the change in equipment from the 1970s to the 90s...or compared to the drastic changes in the rules and the players themselves. Remember 20 years ago when players would drop 12+ beers after every game and take the summer off? That just doesn't happen anymore. Remember when surgery was all about removal of material? Today it is about repair. It is a very debatable argument, but over that period of time the changes in equipment are not as pronounced as the other changes. From plastics to carbon, from leather to synthetic materials, from VN to EPP...yes things have changed but the fundamentals that were there in the 90s are still there today. Notice that some NHLers still wear CCM Ultra Tacks from the early 90s and the HT2 helmet from that time is still around!

[Chadd 916]

1. Improvement in video and scouting

2. Advances in training and nutrition

[bobovski 1]

1. Improvement in video and scouting

2. Advances in training and nutrition

Indeed. Training during the off-season is now a given, and has really upped the level at which most pros perform at.

[A2rhino 63]

Trianing and nutrition has made a huge diff. It's to bad that more people dont pay closer attention to this stuff in the younger leagues. As for the gear, WOW is all I can say. The sticks and skates have made a huge diff as well however lets not forget about the goalie gear. MUCH LIGHTER and protective than in the past. As I'm a fan of the OPS I'm not looking forward to the Thermablades. I think that is where they should draw the line.

BTW: Great thread!

[cbart 1]

One thing missing from today's game (not necessarily the pro game, I'm talking youth hockey) is the skill sets developed through "shinny" hockey. For the most part, gone are the days spent at the local outdoor rink (apologies to our friends in the South) playing pickup hockey for hours on end. No parents, structured practices, whistles, etc to get in the way. 30 kids on a rink, 15 to a side. No better training ground for puck protection, soft hands, rink vision, etc. In the summer, street hockey with a tennis ball (talk about building soft hands). You miss the net playing street hockey out in the street, you're chasing that damn ball for awhile. Teaches you to "hit the net". When we were kids (I sound like my old man now), we went from an hour of on ice coach practice indoors (often outdoors as well!), straight to the outdoor rink till they shut the lights off...Too many kids these days go from the indoor rink to the X-box...

Off my soapbox now...

[Cove 39]

cbart I know what you meen. I'm only 18 but when I was younger I was at the outdoor rink near my house until the lights went off. And even though I don't play competitive no more we still play like 3 hours or so of straight out door hockey no equipment light contact. Good times. Thats what hockey truly is. Its not the endorsements, the flashy gear (although I like flashy gear :P ) the pay days, the glits and glamor. Its about being out doors with your buddies for hours playing for the love of it.

[tro 4]

No, gear hasn't changed the game in the last 20 yrs, I have been watching alot of NHL Classic latley, the skill and speed guys back then could be dropped in todays game and not miss a step. Chadds 1 & 2 have been the biggest change, and that almost every player on every team, is big, strong, fast, but it ain't due to gear. The goalie gear though is obviously a big dif.

[MLSman 22]

Its not the endorsements, the flashy gear (although I like flashy gear :P ) the pay days, the glits and glamor. Its about being out doors with your buddies for hours playing for the love of it.

Read my mind.

I gotta say though...when I read "It's not the.." all I could about was the Indian guy on 40 year old virgin... "It's not about the Cincinnati Bowtie...or the Rusty Trombone..." Made me laugh out loud!

[Cove 39]

lol. Im happy I brang laughter to your evening :)

[Jordan 13]

I think the gear has helped, particularly OPS. Now everybody has a good shot when they have to get it off quickly, used to only be the snipers.

To me the biggest change is the overall skill level. Kids today do much more power skating, hockey instruction and from a younger age. At one time there big slow guys and little fast guys in hockey, and frankly a lot of guys that were poor skaters. Nowadays, everyone can move. There are still fast little guys, but now even the big guys are fast and mobile.

[Cove 39]

I think the gear has helped, particularly OPS. Now everybody has a good shot when they have to get it off quickly, used to only be the snipers.

To me the biggest change is the overall skill level. Kids today do much more power skating, hockey instruction and from a younger age. At one time there big slow guys and little fast guys in hockey, and frankly a lot of guys that were poor skaters. Nowadays, everyone can move. There are still fast little guys, but now even the big guys are fast and mobile.

so true. I knew people doing power skating in like second grade, me included.

[DarkStar50 679]

I was talking to Pat Dapuzzo tonight, NHL linesman for over 1500 games. We were at the rink watching the AAA teams get ready for the NikeBauer Invitational this weekend in Chicago. He said what separates the top players isn't the talent, they all have that. Its the heart, the will to win and desire for the game.

The gear has changed but underneath it all, it is still the player that makes the game, not the equipment.

Those 76-79 Habs teams, 80-83 Islander teams, and 84 and on Oilers teams would all run with any NHL team now. No doubt in my mind.

[Cove 39]

I was talking to Pat Dapuzzo tonight, NHL linesman for over 1500 games. We were at the rink watching the AAA teams get ready for the NikeBauer Invitational this weekend in Chicago. He said what separates the top players isn't the talent, they all have that. Its the heart, the will to win and desire for the game.

The gear has changed but underneath it all, it is still the player that makes the game, not the equipment.

Those 76-79 Habs teams, 80-83 Islander teams, and 84 and on Oilers teams would all run with any NHL team now. No doubt in my mind.

I knew someone like that. He was a good player a little small. But didnt like hockey all that much. His dad just pushed him allot. He stopped playing for a few years n plays now again but isnt pushed as hard.

[A2rhino 63]

Darkstar, dont forget the 96/97-97/98 Wings. HAHA!!

But you are right, it is the heart, will and ambition to be better and to win. Not as someone wrote early on XBOX. I can say that it is a breath of fresh air to come to AZ from Detroit and see that kids in the middle of the desert have the desire to skate and be the best they can. Give it a few more years out here and they will have done whats going on down in TX.

[T-Dot. 0]

everything has been balanced really

sticks and skates are the only real difference makers for out players

and then there is goalie equipment lighter and more protective to counter that

everyone in the pro's has gotten better(we are talkin overall skill) thru nutrition and proper exercise(not to mention freaks like chelios and roberts)

the rest of the equipment doesn't really make a huge difference at the pro level except in the injuries department

injuries are still roughly the same i would say(less stick swinging incidents then in the past) but a few more concussions

(hence the introduction of mandatory helmets as the game was speeding up)

and i think that is do to with the thought that the protective gear makes one feel invincible and as MLSman says the average player is way bigger than before so......you do the math

if anything goalies are the only players where things have changed enough to change the game

[Cove 39]

ya they keep making the nets bigger, and the pads smaller. I rly would rather see a 2-1 or a 1-0 game then a 5-4 game.

[Chadd 916]

ya they keep making the nets bigger, and the pads smaller. I rly would rather see a 2-1 or a 1-0 game then a 5-4 game.

I couldn't care less how many goals were scored as long as there are a decent number of scoring opportunities. If the goalie makes a great save, that's part of the game.

[Cove 39]

ya they keep making the nets bigger, and the pads smaller. I rly would rather see a 2-1 or a 1-0 game then a 5-4 game.

I couldn't care less how many goals were scored as long as there are a decent number of scoring opportunities. If the goalie makes a great save, that's part of the game.

ya, the top dogs in the NHL seem to think that high scoring games are what will draw people. Id rather see great saves, big hits, and opportunities.

[joshy207 15]

NHL level aside, I think changes in equipment over the last 20 years have hurt the game as much as--or even more than--they've helped.

The cost of the game is driving players away, so why are skates and sticks so expensive?

Composite sticks have taken the feel out of handling the puck, especially for young kids. They couldn't tell you whether they have the puck on their stick or not. Can't catch and make passes, can't shoot like they could if they all used wood sticks.

Removing flat lies from sticks only helps those who can really dangle. It's amazing how much better kids can handle the puck with a flat blade.

Top-end skates are too stiff for kids. They have no ankle flex and therefore no stride.

Go back further... cages, while protective and a necessity for youth hockey, have decreased the respect level among kids. Let's have Midgets, Bantams, even Peewees play a few games with bare faces and see how quickly the sticks and fists come down.

The way to become a better hockey player is proper technique and training. Equipment won't make a lick of difference.

[Cove 39]

NHL level aside, I think changes in equipment over the last 20 years have hurt the game as much as--or even more than--they've helped.

The cost of the game is driving players away, so why are skates and sticks so expensive?

Composite sticks have taken the feel out of handling the puck, especially for young kids. They couldn't tell you whether they have the puck on their stick or not. Can't catch and make passes, can't shoot like they could if they all used wood sticks.

Removing flat lies from sticks only helps those who can really dangle. It's amazing how much better kids can handle the puck with a flat blade.

Top-end skates are too stiff for kids. They have no ankle flex and therefore no stride.

Go back further... cages, while protective and a necessity for youth hockey, have decreased the respect level among kids. Let's have Midgets, Bantams, even Peewees play a few games with bare faces and see how quickly the sticks and fists come down.

The way to become a better hockey player is proper technique and training. Equipment won't make a lick of difference.

So true (minus that stuff about the cages) How many slap shot competitions did mcinis(wow I really cant spell) win using a woden hockey stick ?

[KingPest19 0]

NHL level aside, I think changes in equipment over the last 20 years have hurt the game as much as--or even more than--they've helped.

The cost of the game is driving players away, so why are skates and sticks so expensive?

Composite sticks have taken the feel out of handling the puck, especially for young kids. They couldn't tell you whether they have the puck on their stick or not. Can't catch and make passes, can't shoot like they could if they all used wood sticks.

Removing flat lies from sticks only helps those who can really dangle. It's amazing how much better kids can handle the puck with a flat blade.

Top-end skates are too stiff for kids. They have no ankle flex and therefore no stride.

Go back further... cages, while protective and a necessity for youth hockey, have decreased the respect level among kids. Let's have Midgets, Bantams, even Peewees play a few games with bare faces and see how quickly the sticks and fists come down.

The way to become a better hockey player is proper technique and training. Equipment won't make a lick of difference.

So true (minus that stuff about the cages) How many slap shot competitions did mcinis(wow I really cant spell) win using a woden hockey stick ?

I have to agree about the cages. Kids arent learnign to keep the stick down and that carries with them through every level. Seems when I play a majority of the time I get a stick near the face its a guy wearing a cage.

[Storm 0]

Because of the protective gear the player giving the hit feels more invulnerable and the game has gone from a contact to a collision sport.

As a youngster (70's... I know I'm old) I use to hit and felt many of the hits I gave. As an older teen I played football as well and because of the equipment I never thought twice about not going head first flying in the air to make a tackle. I'm not surprised by some of the hits I see today. Many could almost be considered charging.

I don't think I would fear the hits today, it's the boards that scare me. Kinda like getting hit twice.

[epstud74 24]

How about the sticks? I still prefer wood over OPC type sticks. I seem to get a better "feel" that way I guess. I still think heating the skate blade is blasphemy