Skates TOO high tech for NHL

[Neal 41]

I think hockey specific and more specifically skating stride specific training may be leading to these issues. By strengthening the large leg muscles with these types of exercises you can greatly increase the force with which you can push off in your. I don't think the smaller, supporting muscles in the groin, hips and abdomen are strengthened to the same degree by these exercises.

The new skates may be a contributing factor because they are stiffer and more efficient at transferring that increased energy to the ice. That increase the force placed on the supporting muscles, in my totally uneducated opinion.

I think there is some recognition of this by some players - those players often use yoga or similar exercises to improve flexibility and range of motion.

[troy 12]

What does focusing on physical strength over skill have anything to do with equipment knowledge?

[chippa13 1844]

75% of NHLers are getting retail stiffness.

And about the same percentage of them don't know what's good for them or use improper equipment, that's why they play on 2,3, 4 lines.

Cheers

really

He likes making outrageous statements like that to see who will take his bait.

Far from it, if I wanted to do that I’d post on every subject, it's simply my observation. I remember in an all star game they had Iginla mic'ed up and he said something about adding a wooden extension to his stick increases the flex stiffness, or something it that area - please no more penis jokes. I was very surprised that a player his caliber doesn’t know such simple thing.

I skated many times with a couple of guys who have better skill then 50% of NHLers and can turn on dime without loosing the puck, I asked on of them what kind of radius you have on your blades since he’s was very agile skater, he said the stock one what ever Bauer has, he doesn’t even know it.

I think too many players focus more on their physical strength then skill, and this is also blame on coaches.

Cheers

Are you sure he didn't say that adding an extension increased the flex as in made the stick whippier. Perhaps it is you who doesn't know such simple thing.

[Rustpot 1]

It's been discussed before that players don't all learn everything there is to know on their equipment. Being an engineer I learn all I can, but damned if every one of my friends that plays doesn't know jack shit except that this works, that doesn't, and brand X shall never be used since they got a bum product 10 years ago.

If any of my friends were really good, they would have an equipment manager paid to know all that shit for them. I'm sure the more curious guys would pick stuff up, but when I go into a locker room and see every player with 100 flex or higher sticks because "they don't break as easily" it's not a stretch that they aren't well versed in ROH and blade radius.

And who knows, Iginla may have chopped off composite and kept the same length, knowing that a stick with a tenon plug a few inches below the top hand may be 1-2lbs stiffer than a stick of the same length that's 100% composite. Adding length lowers flex, but what does changing material at the same length do?

[bruins4777 1]

i guess there are trolls on everyboard

[Jarick 5]

Adding length lowers flex, but what does changing material at the same length do?

Changes the flex to more closely resemble the new material's stiffness.

[chippa13 1844]

What does focusing on physical strength over skill have anything to do with equipment knowledge?

Everything, when I’m working on my stick handling if I don’t have the proper lie, curve and stick length I can’t make the right play at full speed. In the show it's even more critical since you have split second to react. So if I'm not smart enough to realize that I loose the puck because I have the wrong lie, or longer radius on my blades it will affect my skill level.

Strength on the other hand is 50% off ice training which has nothing to do with skill nor does it require any brain activity, simply push your self to your own limit.

Cheers

Some guys that I've played with who reached the top levels can skate on anything and shoot with anything. Even though they might be on a hollow or radius that isn't perfectly suited to their style they are still good enough that it doesn't effect them. For many of us beer leaguers the same cannot be said.

[ZINC 8]

What does focusing on physical strength over skill have anything to do with equipment knowledge?

Everything, when I’m working on my stick handling if I don’t have the proper lie, curve and stick length I can’t make the right play at full speed. In the show it's even more critical since you have split second to react. So if I'm not smart enough to realize that I loose the puck because I have the wrong lie, or longer radius on my blades it will affect my skill level.

Strength on the other hand is 50% off ice training which has nothing to do with skill nor does it require any brain activity, simply push your self to your own limit.

Cheers

Some guys that I've played with who reached the top levels can skate on anything and shoot with anything. Even though they might be on a hollow or radius that isn't perfectly suited to their style they are still good enough that it doesn't effect them. For many of us beer leaguers the same cannot be said.

Hrm, this maaaay be true at a open hockey / pick-up game. But I'd be willing to bet my life savings that he needs every tiny advantage he can get (including ALL of his gear working perfectly, and for him) when he is playing at any type of elite level.

[harpersnipes12 0]

What does focusing on physical strength over skill have anything to do with equipment knowledge?

Everything, when I’m working on my stick handling if I don’t have the proper lie, curve and stick length I can’t make the right play at full speed. In the show it's even more critical since you have split second to react. So if I'm not smart enough to realize that I loose the puck because I have the wrong lie, or longer radius on my blades it will affect my skill level.

Strength on the other hand is 50% off ice training which has nothing to do with skill nor does it require any brain activity, simply push your self to your own limit.

Cheers

Some guys that I've played with who reached the top levels can skate on anything and shoot with anything. Even though they might be on a hollow or radius that isn't perfectly suited to their style they are still good enough that it doesn't effect them. For many of us beer leaguers the same cannot be said.

Hrm, this maaaay be true at a open hockey / pick-up game. But I'd be willing to bet my life savings that he needs every tiny advantage he can get (including ALL of his gear working perfectly, and for him) when he is playing at any type of elite level.

I totally agree with you on this... anyone wants the slightest advantage... a half a stride could mean the difference in a game

[chippa13 1844]

What does focusing on physical strength over skill have anything to do with equipment knowledge?

Everything, when I’m working on my stick handling if I don’t have the proper lie, curve and stick length I can’t make the right play at full speed. In the show it's even more critical since you have split second to react. So if I'm not smart enough to realize that I loose the puck because I have the wrong lie, or longer radius on my blades it will affect my skill level.

Strength on the other hand is 50% off ice training which has nothing to do with skill nor does it require any brain activity, simply push your self to your own limit.

Cheers

Some guys that I've played with who reached the top levels can skate on anything and shoot with anything. Even though they might be on a hollow or radius that isn't perfectly suited to their style they are still good enough that it doesn't effect them. For many of us beer leaguers the same cannot be said.

Hrm, this maaaay be true at a open hockey / pick-up game. But I'd be willing to bet my life savings that he needs every tiny advantage he can get (including ALL of his gear working perfectly, and for him) when he is playing at any type of elite level.

And you may lose that life savings depending on what player you pick. For every pro that has to get everything just so there is a pro who can grab any stick or just toss on the blades and never know the difference.

[bruins4777 1]

Just want to point out that he more or less said the reason certain NHLer's are on the 2nd,3rd, and 4th line were because they had the wrong equipment. He followed this up with commenting on how Iggy wasn't using the right equipment. I didn't know iggy stopped being a first line franchise forward

[Neal 41]

I love Iggy, but let’s not forget he’s not a finesse player, he's a hard worker and very determent player who's willing to do what most aren’t, but he’s far from a smooth skater or soft hands.

Cheers

I have now learned that you know nothing about NHL hockey and will be able to ignore your posts on any NHL related matters in the future. Thanks for that.

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

Equipment managers should be able to adjust hollows and contact surfaces so a player can adjust to soft ice. I don't buy that reasoning. It's not inactivity. No one stays inactive anymore, not even the mites.

In speaking with a couple people that know ALL the trainers there are very few that adjust for ice conditions. In fact i just made a phone call and found they were using there same hollows as usual and therefore could have caused the injuries being as the ice was soft according to the one player.

Myself being a traininer and coach I always adjust for the ice conditions and it has proven to do wonders!

[legiahockey 3]

i wish i could adjust my edges! over here. theres one edge. and its deeeep! i have to rub my skates on the plastic getting on the ice for a long time. because theres so much bite at first i can barely stop.

[chippa13 1844]

i wish i could adjust my edges! over here. theres one edge. and its deeeep! i have to rub my skates on the plastic getting on the ice for a long time. because theres so much bite at first i can barely stop.

I'm sure if you talked to the guy who sharpens and made sure to visit at off peak times then he would probably adjust to what you wanted.