Was the game better with wooden sticks?

[BraveCanadian]

Entry level composite sticks are comparable in price to wooden sticks, anyway.

Were your wooden sticks made of black walnut or something?

Composite sticks don't make you shoot harder, they just make it easier and more efficient.

For the average player they absolutely do.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Were your wooden sticks made of black walnut or something?



For the average player they absolutely do.

You can find a decent entry level youth composite stick in various brands for around $40-45 price range USD. Wood sticks what maybe $25?

It’s really not much a difference.


As for shooting harder, it doesn’t create a safety risk which was my point. MLB players don’t use metal bats because people would die or get severely injured if they did.

 

[Victorias]

You can find a decent entry level youth composite stick in various brands for around $40-45 price range USD. Wood sticks what maybe $25?

It’s really not much a difference.


As for shooting harder, it doesn’t create a safety risk which was my point. MLB players don’t use metal bats because people would die or get severely injured if they did.

Yeah, I believe what you are saying is that max shot velocity hasn’t necessarily increased - which may be true (based on the hardest shot competition for example).

But wrist shot velocity has, right? So the average shot velocity has increased and that has perhaps led to a decrease in goalie “skill” (ie they are more like lacrosse goalies).

The question is whether composite sticks are bringing out skill in players or making it easier for less skilled players to snipe top corner every time.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Yeah, I believe what you are saying is that max shot velocity hasn’t necessarily increased - which may be true (based on the hardest shot competition for example).

But wrist shot velocity has, right? So the average shot velocity has increased and that has perhaps led to a decrease in goalie “skill” (ie they are more like lacrosse goalies).

The question is whether composite sticks are bringing out skill in players or making it easier for less skilled players to snipe top corner every time.

With composite you get can get a bit quicker releases on shots and can shoot as hard with a bit less effort. But again not so much that they're actually shooting harder.

Good shooters will still shoot quicker and harder than bad shooters no matter the stick.

 

[JFedol]

I unironically think so tbh.

I felt like it showcased the true talent between superstars and the typical 3rd/4th line bottom six players. Stickhandling also felt way more fluid with wood compared to composition and lots of goals from goalscorers using those sticks had a very common skill based theme revolving around it. Kurri, Bossy, 90s Hull and Bure had lasers of shots that felt like only they could do it because they were just snipers

The difference is very noticeable if you watch old games IMO.

 

[Sergei Bure]

Yeah, in today's game most of the players look like they have a lot of skill, bring back the wooden sticks and we will be able to separate the men from the boys.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

I unironically think so tbh.

I felt like it showcased the true talent between superstars and the typical 3rd/4th line bottom six players. Stickhandling also felt way more fluid with wood compared to composition and lots of goals from goalscorers using those sticks had a very common skill based theme revolving around it. Kurri, Bossy, 90s Hull and Bure had lasers of shots that felt like only they could do it because they were just snipers

The difference is very noticeable if you watch old games IMO.

this is the reasoning for me too.

it really let you see the skill difference between stars and bottom roster guys. with modern composites anyone can snap a wrister with accuracy, but back then it was an actual skill. (yes I sound like a "back in my day" old man, so be it)

 

[Michael Farkas]

I'm always game for trading wood stick usage for smaller goalie equipment...

 

[Gerulaitis]

Of course, wooden sticks were better. Organic stuff

 

[Sergei Bure]

When i watch the 1972 Summit Series, the first thing i think it's always "God, the sticks were really shitty back then compared to today"...

 

[JFedol]

Been watching so much old games right now lol. Specifically prime Jagr, Lemieux and Gretzky.

It becomes more apparent how much of a mistake it was to go to composite.

 

[SealsFan]

The game was better when men wore mustaches, swung wooden sticks, and drank beers after games.

Not the milksops of today with their composites.

Back when men of 35 looked more like 55... (Gary Bergman, Marv Edwards, Gump Worsley, etc.)

 

[wetcoast]

There's a pinball-ish aspect to modern hockey that's kinda boring, and reminds me a bit of floorball (which is fun to play but not to watch).

I don't know if this is a very hot take or not, but a guy like Auston Matthews IMO isn't a very exciting player to watch, and he's kinda the new school poster boy for whipping the puck.

Sure but I think this has more to do with the progression of coaching and over coaching as well as systems ect.

I don't really care one way or the other but the skill level has less to do with the sticks than players just being more skill full and dictated to being better in all aspects of the game.

Organically the "skill level" probably never really changes all that much but how we view it and compare it sure does.

 

[Skiiiiiiinerrr]

The game was better when men wore mustaches, swung wooden sticks, and drank beers after games.

Not the milksops of today with their composites.

Okay Grampa.

 

[PistolPete]

Yeah, in today's game most of the players look like they have a lot of skill, bring back the wooden sticks and we will be able to separate the men from the boys.

Why would you want to decrease the overall skill level ??

 

[PistolPete]

Back when men of 35 looked more like 55... (Gary Bergman, Marv Edwards, Gump Worsley, etc.)

Drinking and smoking will do that to a man

 

[Sergei Bure]

Why would you want to decrease the overall skill level ??

Because it shows who is really skilled, when the material evolution goes too far, it becomes more a game of endurance than skill, look at tennis, the top players have became "marathon runners".

 

[PistolPete]

Because it shows who is really skilled, when the material evolution goes too far, it becomes more a game of endurance than skill, look at tennis, the top players have became "marathon runners".

But I don't want to see who is "really skilled", I want to see skill. I want to be entertained, not see players ascertained.

 

[Sergei Bure]

But I don't want to see who is "really skilled", I want to see skill. I want to be entertained, not see players ascertained.

If everybody is skilled it becomes boring, the beauty is the contrast of styles, skilled players, hooligans with sticks, smart players, a mix of everything. That's why the Soviet Union against Canada games were so memorable, not only because of the "cold war" factor, but also because the canadiens were agressive and ruthless while the soviets made art out of hockey.

 

[BB79]

Why would you want to decrease the overall skill level ??

That's what expansion is for!

I don't think using wood sticks will decrease the overall skill level. MacInnis and Iafrate had no problem blasting 102mph slapshots with wood sticks. Didn't slow down Mogilny or Selanne at all. It might even lead to less stupid broken sticks all over the ice. Composite seems to break like they're glass.

 

[PistolPete]

That's what expansion is for!

I don't think using wood sticks will decrease the overall skill level. MacInnis and Iafrate had no problem blasting 102mph slapshots with wood sticks. Didn't slow down Mogilny or Selanne at all. It might even lead to less stupid broken sticks all over the ice. Composite seems to break like they're glass.

I always tell my wife they should have a rule that the player has to immediately pick up his broken blade and directly skate it and the shift over to his bench- without any attempt to continue playing.

Just because it'd make for some funny and unpredictable shit depending where on the ice his stick broke.

Could you imagine, behind your own net and you have to stop battling for the puck and basically give the opponent free possessoin or free shot?

 

[PistolPete]

If everybody is skilled it becomes boring, the beauty is the contrast of styles, skilled players, hooligans with sticks, smart players, a mix of everything. That's why the Soviet Union against Canada games were so memorable, not only because of the "cold war" factor, but also because the canadiens were agressive and ruthless while the soviets made art out of hockey.

But skilled is all relative. It's like steroids. If everyone takes steroids, nit everyone is suddenly going to be hitting 40HR. Overall numbers may increase so the 5 HR guy is hitting 10 and the 30HR guy is hitting 40, but you're still going to have your unequal distribution of talent. Just think of composites as steroids and the dame applies to hockey.

And the USSR/Canada match up could still happen. That's a matter of coaching strategy and general approach to the game.

If a composite allows players to handle and shoot better in the meantime, I just don't see a problem with it.

Here's a way of looking at it too:

When was scoring the highest in NHL history? The 80s which = wooden sticks.

So it's fair to say composites aren't turning players into Bossys, Hulls, Kurris, or even Maruks. If ya suck, ya suck.