Miscellaneous NHL Discussion: "The March is On" edition

[FLYguy3911]

Imagine our goalies in the non-watered down NHL era.

 

[Beef Invictus]

To a man the rosters are stronger these days too. The salary cap creates more balance. The gaps between the between the top, middle, & bottom of the league aren’t as big as they used to post salary cap. Where some small market teams were more so glorified farm teams for the big market teams in the pre-salary cap era.

Additionally, systems have tuned up defense a ton. Whereas a lot of defense in the 80s required skaters to individually read the play and make decisions and even try to win one on one matchups, today a lot of that process is "automated," in a sense, and works harder to isolate puck carriers and let defenders outnumber them.

 

[Beef Invictus]

For example, watching old games from the 80s, it was not unusual to see the puck down in the left corner. The opposing left wing would often stay in the vicinity of the offensive RD in a man system; that's his man damnit, and he's staying with him. Whereas today you usually see that dman abandoned so the winger can be in the slot while more defenders go in the corner to try and overmatch the offense.

This of course varied from team to team/coach to coach, and even from line to line; players who grew up without systems may be told to" just uh do what you know and try to keep up ok?" Which meant basic man coverage. It was part of a transition to what we'd consider the modern era so consistency wasn't there like it is now.

 

[Amorgus]

Just in case it hasn't been seen before, everyone should have this pic available.

 

[Beef Invictus]

I used to love that shit too. Give me pad stacker saves like this all day.

YOLO Goalieing when it works is unstoppable entertainment, but when it's not working is unstoppable pain.

 

[Young Sandwich]

YOLO Goalieing when it works is unstoppable entertainment, but when it's not working is unstoppable pain.

Either way you're still guaranteed plenty of wildly chaotic flailing. Tough to beat that.

 

[BernieParent]

What isn't being mentioned here is the blatant stickwork through the 80s. Not only could you get your stick right into an opponent's midsection, you could waterski for a few seconds. The holding and interference was just part of "good defense." That is one thing that drives me nuts watching old games.

 

[CutOnDime97]

 

[Young Sandwich]

That Ekblad injury looked gruesome. Hope for a quick recovery.

 

[deeshamrock]

I turned it own just as the Blues went up 2-0 in the first and heard his name. So I watched the game. His first start of the season and after being rusty in the 1st, he played a great game, turning out the next 38 shots on in the 3-2 Win, and got an assist on the Ducks GWG in OT. I always liked him, hopefully he'll continue to do well.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

 

[Rebels57]

That Ekblad injury looked gruesome. Hope for a quick recovery.

Are we thinking broken leg? That was just awful.

 

[Rebels57]

I mean, how do you NOT call that? Unreal.

 

[flyersfan018]

Absolutely hate Edwards but he’s 1000% correct.

 

[Young Sandwich]

Are we thinking broken leg? That was just awful.

Could be a bunch of things based on the way his leg bent. He was in some serious pain.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Probably knee. Lotta pressure on that area.

 

[Lindberg]

Nope. There are other players that would have better or similar numbers if they played in this watered down, light weight game of today’s hockey.

I'm assuming this was complete sarcasm.

 

[wankstifier]

Are we thinking broken leg? That was just awful.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

 

[CanadianFlyer88]

That's a cool use of expertise and clear fandom of sports to help laypeople understand what's going on biologically in an injury situation.

 

[Don Nachbaur 26]

That was pretty dope. Hard to watch, but..

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

20 years ago today.

Anybody remember Kevin Collins the linesman back in the day? Guy was probably the most hated man in the league for always trying to break fights up.

 

[flyersnorth]

Coots: "Papa?"

 

[FLYguy3911]

Another one.

 

[Deadpool8812]

I mean, how do you NOT call that? Unreal.

I would actually call the embellishment as well