NHL curve limit

[dsjunior1388 81]

I have heard the NHL curve limit was bumped up from 3/4" to 7/8". I have also heard they abolished the curve limit all together, all though i sincerely doubt that. The NHL.com rules page has not been updated since 2003.

So where does the rule stand?

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

umm, NHL.com posts the current rule book every season.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=27011

it's 3/4", per rule 10.1. as for if it's being changed for next year, i dont know.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

I have also heard they abolished the curve limit all together

Would be scary if they did with how fast and hard the puck is shot with the composite sticks now..

[dsjunior1388 81]

umm, NHL.com posts the current rule book every season.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=27011

it's 3/4", per rule 10.1. as for if it's being changed for next year, i dont know.

thanks, my google search yeilded the 03 book.

I have also heard they abolished the curve limit all together

Would be scary if they did with how fast and hard the puck is shot with the composite sticks now..

my source on this was PHEW, needless to say I was a bit skeptical

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

haha i wasnt sayin anything about your source, i was just sayin could you imagine now if they didnt have a rule on curves...i think more players would be wearing visors

[odp 0]

I have also heard they abolished the curve limit all together

Would be scary if they did with how fast and hard the puck is shot with the composite sticks now..

Chara doesn't have a massive hook on his stick. Doubt Iafrate had one either.

[lampliter87 8]

...MacInnus? Woody, pretty straight curve.

[start_today 770]

I think his (pen's fanatic) point about abolishing the curve was that with a big curve, the puck tends to rise quicker. With average players shooting harder due to composite sticks (is this verifyably true? any good background info?) you would have more guys getting hit with shots up high, due to less time to react.

[Chadd 916]

...MacInnus? Woody, pretty straight curve.

Huge bend at the heel

[TBLfan 25]

Yeah, huge wedge.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

I think his (pen's fanatic) point about abolishing the curve was that with a big curve, the puck tends to rise quicker. With average players shooting harder due to composite sticks (is this verifyably true? any good background info?) you would have more guys getting hit with shots up high, due to less time to react.

yea the composite sticks are likened to that of metal baseball bats, they are typically lighter and can generate more speed...composites tend to be lighter than wood and when you are swinging something with as much force as the pros do you the end result will be a faster and harder shot...if i'm not mistaken...which i could be wrong

[Chadd 916]

I think his (pen's fanatic) point about abolishing the curve was that with a big curve, the puck tends to rise quicker. With average players shooting harder due to composite sticks (is this verifyably true? any good background info?) you would have more guys getting hit with shots up high, due to less time to react.

yea the composite sticks are likened to that of metal baseball bats, they are typically lighter and can generate more speed...composites tend to be lighter than wood and when you are swinging something with as much force as the pros do you the end result will be a faster and harder shot...if i'm not mistaken...which i could be wrong

Guys are not shooting harder because of composite sticks

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

well the main reason is because they are bigger and stronger

i was looking for it online but i cant find it, it was a study about composite versus wood..but oh well it's not really important

[Jackal_17 0]

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/599327

Jason Spezza shaved off too much of his blade... Didn't know that's in the rule book as well.

[sitzlejd 0]

So I guess from reading the article it was too sharp and was a danger to cut someone? I didn't totally follow that...

[Gummer12 134]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_dadd...?urn=nhl,147010

[interpathway 9]

So I guess from reading the article it was too sharp and was a danger to cut someone? I didn't totally follow that...

Yes, too narrow.

[Larry54 243]

Why do NHL players doctor their sticks? Don't they have sticks built to their specs to begin with? Or is it that the manufacturers refuse to create sticks that don't conform to the rules, so players have to add the illegal modifications by themselves? That would lead us to beleive that any time a player modifies his stick, it's likely illegal?

[interpathway 9]

Some players genuinely enjoy working on their sticks, no doubt in my mind.

[psh 25]

Has anybody ever read about why Spezza shaves down the end of his stick. I just can't figure out any advantage that comes from what he does with his blade. The only thing that seems even remotely plausible is that it allows him to slide his stick under an opponent's stick--for instance on a face-off. Even that seems like a stretch, though.

[lampliter87 8]

It would certainly affect the "feel".

[interpathway 9]

Weight. Aesthetics. And when the puck is in his feet, by shaving down the bottom half he can still stick-handle with a "good" amount of blade on the ice.

[psh 25]

I've heard him refer to the weight of the blade and reducing it by shaving it down, but that just seems implausible to me. If he was concerned about weight, why was he still using wooden sticks last year?

[interpathway 9]

Feel? Balance? I too think the weight argument is moot, how much could he possibly be saving?

[Larry54 243]

In the article linked in post #14, Spezza is quoted as saying, "I just shave it down for weight. I just can't shave them as much now. I'll use heavier sticks and work a little more."