Interesting Article "Speed Merchants"

[Neo5370 132]

I found this on the HHOF site and thought it was pretty neat.

http://www.hhof.com/html/wo_blsSpeed.shtml

Nothing we haven't discussed here at least twice, except for maybe the "early speed merchants", but still worth the read IMO.

[Chadd 916]

I've never seen anyone faster than Gartner in the time I have been watching the NHL.

[Kevin 5]

Gagne is the only one I question in the article. However, I am sure there are people on this board who have watched a lot more Flyers games than I have.

[Tikkanen 1]

I'd have to go with Bure. The guy could flat out fly and blow right past people in his prime.

[Law Goalie 147]

The more I watch Scott Neidermayer, the more impressed I am with his skating. He's rarely going flat out, but he calculates his speed and manages his stride beautifully. That powerplay in Game 1 against the Sharks was Orr-like.

[Chadd 916]

I'd have to go with Bure. The guy could flat out fly and blow right past people in his prime.

Bure had a burst that got him to top speed in only one or two strides, it was beautiful to watch

[DarkStar50 679]

It was Bobby Orr's skating ability that changed the game in the mid to late 60s. Once he entered his prime skating years, the early 70s, he was way ahead of the pack. Most games he only went 100% top end speed for a few shifts. He was cruising by everyone at 90% of his skating ability/speed already.

It wasn't until Paul Coffey started his Oilers rushes from behind Grant Fuhr's net that the NHL had another speed burner on the blue line. Mark Messier was no dog on those Oiler teams when it came to the overdrive gear. Messier had it, too.

[Larry54 243]

We're talking mostly about top speed here, but just as important is acceleration. And I've always been impressed by Paul Kariya's acceleration.

[JR97 2]

I'm surprised Amonte didn't get a mention. He was a fastest skater winner once, too if I recall correctly. I remember seeing him go head to head against Bure and actually beating him. Not the prettiest of skater though. His stride looked like he was really trying compared to the smoothness of Neidermeyer.

Speaking of smoothness, I think some of the smoothest skaters of the contemporary age have been D-men. Neidermeyer, Zubov, Leetch. I recall Berard being a pretty good skater in his early years.

[chippa13 1844]

Most of your better offensive defenseman are going to be smooth, strong skates because if they weren't then they wouldn't be able to jump into the rush and still keep their NHL jobs.

Back to speedsters, Roenick could definitely be included and let's not forget Shawn McEachern. He blazed around pretty good.

[Jordan 13]

I would add Alex Mogilny at his peak. I saw him at Maple Leaf Gardens when he played for Vancouver with Bure...it was Mogilny that was the fastest on the ice that night.

I was sitting (for those who know the old MLG) in front row reds, on the end rail that damn near hung over the ice. He came right at me...honestly he just blew me away!

Saw Orr a bunch of times live...the thing that I remember most about him, was that every one had to honour his ability he could start out of his own end going really slowly. He would gradually build speed, then as soon as anyone committed to him he would hit high gear and he was gone..he was unbelievable.

[Apes44 7]

Although he barely played in the NHL Konstantin Koltsov, he had unreal speed, just hands like stone

[psh 25]

+1 on Zubov. That guy is just so smooth. In past years, it has been worth watching Stars games just to key in on those two guys. The most beautiful strides in the league, if you ask me.

It's interesting how different styles of skating are taught around the world. Two of the faster skaters right now are Gaborik and Afinogenov. Both of them have very upright torsos and choppy, high kneed strides. Totally unlike a Hedican or Modano, at least insofar as the choppy stride goes. Gabby and Afinogenov fly, but their skating style has always looked odd to me.

[JR97 2]

Bondra was another speedster that was worth watching. Has there ever been a quieter 500 goals?

[automorph 0]

he had unreal speed, just hands like stone

story of my life :P

[tro 4]

I was watching a NHL classic game this year, old 60's Chicago vs someone, and I was sitting thinking how slow the game looked and thought it must be the camera or old hockey was very slow and then out of no were Bobby Hull takes the puck and flies up the ice just as fast as anyone playing today. I was amazed at how much faster he was than everyone else, just think if he had the technology of todays skates.

[K9 Unit 1]

he had unreal speed, just hands like stone

story of my life :P

rofl me too

scott neidermeyer is crazy man...if it wasn't for the number on his back i wouldn't know he jumped up into the play, its freaky =P

[Neo5370 132]

I agree Niedermayer is deceptive. Didn't know if I should start another topic but he makes me wonder where he should be ranked among all time great defensemen. IMO opinion 1 and 2 are always going to be Orr and Bourque respectively. After that it's all bias whether it's team or era based.

I remember when Nieds played second banana to Stevens but all time Niedermayer has to be up there. Top 10-15 at least.

Who do we have after Bobby and Ray? I'll put( (no particular order) Leetch, Coffey, Niedermayer, Lidstrom and from what I read Brad Park, Larry Robinson up there.

Also, I dunno if he's a great all around defenseman but I loved Housley's offensive upside.

[tro 4]

I agree Niedermayer is deceptive. Didn't know if I should start another topic but he makes me wonder where he should be ranked among all time great defensemen. IMO opinion 1 and 2 are always going to be Orr and Bourque respectively. After that it's all bias whether it's team or era based.

I remember when Nieds played second banana to Stevens but all time Niedermayer has to be up there. Top 10-15 at least.

Who do we have after Bobby and Ray? I'll put( (no particular order) Leetch, Coffey, Niedermayer, Lidstrom and from what I read Brad Park, Larry Robinson up there.

Also, I dunno if he's a great all around defenseman but I loved Housley's offensive upside.

Off topic, but if were talkin all time best, you have to throw in, Doug Harvey, Winner of the Norris Trophy

1955, 1956, 1957, 1958/ All-Star team 11 consecutive times

[HattrickSwayze 3]

Niedermayer's not only fast, but he's such a smooth skater as well. When he starts a rush up the ice, it looks like he's moving slowly until you see him pass his forwards into the zone. Ovechkin is another guy that really impresses me with not only his skating speed, but how he can stickhandle so quickly at full speed. Ovechkin's skating style is just completely different though, he looks like a bull in a china shop sometimes. Datsyuk is the same way in that he can be moving at 110% speed and still be stickhandling with no problem at all.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Pavel Bure was amazing, having the pleasure of seeing him live many many times, I still wonder if anyone was as fast, because he wasn't only fast going in a straight line, because he was so quick side to side and his hands were as fast or faster than his skating attributes.

It is often said that you don't have the same understanding about how quick the game and players are watching on TV vs being there live, and Bure was a true reflection of that.

I remember watching his first NHL game on TV and not getting a chance to see him live at the old Pacific Coliseum for a few games after that, and was amazed...

There are guys these days that are fast, but either don't have the lateral ability or the hands to match...

Bure was truly the whole package, I remember one day some friends of mine and our fathers rented some Ice in the summertime and on the Ice before us Valeri and Pavel Bure were skating at the 8 Rinks facility here in Vancouver with a strength and conditioning coach with their Father Vladmir looking on. They were doing sprints with Parachutes that were hokked up to a vest/backpack looking thing they were wearing... No wonder both of those guys could fly.

[rjw059 0]

interesting to see Rico Fata's name mentioned...I played against him in the 1994 PeeWee Quebec tournament...the spotlight followed him everywhere he went at that tournament at just 14 yrs old.

another player deserving honorable mention is Andy McDonald...as a Blues fan it is quite a sight being able to watch him skate in person.

[automorph 0]

if blues stayed healthy they have an awesome team for speed Mcdonald and Kariya

[RetiredTender 0]

I don't think I could bet against Gaborik when he is healthy.

[Krev 86]

Modano still has the purest stride you will ever see, even for his age. In his prime, untouchable.

Zubov and Niedermayer have the smoothest skating style, IMO.

The article mentioned future speedsters. I'd keep an eye on Bobby Ryan and James Neal.