R&D Camp

[goaliemanshark 6]

That makes it much more clear what you're trying to say. I cant imagine that anyone could get 200 points in todays NHL

[tiax 0]

It depends on what keeps the score low. If it's holding and hooking, that doesn't make anything better.

A lot of people are under the misconception that it's about creating scoring, it isn't. It's about creating scoring opportunities. Goalies making 40 saves in a game, tends to be way more exciting than goalies making 12 saves a game.

Agreed and in recent seasons holding and hooking hasn't been too bad. Creating scoring opportunities will create more scoring. Otherwise they wouldn't be opportunities.

[chippa13 1844]

That makes it much more clear what you're trying to say. I cant imagine that anyone could get 200 points in todays NHL

The only way it could happen would be if the NHL did another major expansion/merger with another league. Remember, Gretzky had those seasons in the early years of the Original 21. The great seasons of Esposito and Orr followed the expansion from 6 to 12 teams.

[Lee-Bro 1]

The only way it could happen would be if the NHL did another major expansion/merger with another league. Remember, Gretzky had those seasons in the early years of the Original 21. The great seasons of Esposito and Orr followed the expansion from 6 to 12 teams.

If you're implying scoring spikes are a result of a diluted quality immediately after the expansion, I'd expect the scoring to remain high for several years. Rather than a quick "drop off". 'Course I'm no math-magician so I can't say what it takes the rest of the field (of players) to come up to the pre-expansion level of play...or maybe those great players had their quality lowered over time by the new lower denominator. FMMV.

[chippa13 1844]

I don't know about you but there is hardly a "quick drop off" in the inflated numbers after each of the major expansions. Before Esposito did it in 68-69, nobody had topped the 100 point mark and it was done throughout the 70's until after the next expension when previously only once had somebody topped the 150 point mark, it was done in 11 of the next 13 seasons. The drop didn't come until some of the lesser talented teams started espousing more of a defense first approach and the goalie equipment started to grow.

[Jason Harris 31]

What somewhat falls in line with your theory is I think the full integration of Europeans, particularly Russians, had occurred by the mid to late 90's, so there was a lot more talent in the league. I recall Jagr making a suggestion as scoring went down that maybe the NHL should go to 4-on-4, because players were too big and too fast, leaving little room for skating.

[Chadd 916]

Agreed and in recent seasons holding and hooking hasn't been too bad. Creating scoring opportunities will create more scoring. Otherwise they wouldn't be opportunities.

The standards have been slipping steadily over the last couple years and the playoffs were abysmal.

[Joshison 1]

I don't get how replacing a padded stanchion with glass is going to be better. Maybe I'm missing something?

[chippa13 1844]

They are going to curve the glass so that it won't be a straight on blow but players will be deflected off of it.

[pbhockey4 0]

I think the new goal will help the game a lot since determining goals in the nhl is a challenge today due to the white mesh.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Video of the new glass that will be in place tonight for the Habs/Stars game in Montreal. (Frendh with subtitles)

http://video.canadiens.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=1174&id=123898

[pbhockey4 0]

It looks pretty cool!