Why would any player not be good at skating

[Garbageyuk]

Wow. You should be a billionaire. It's better than not being one, so why aren't you? Just do some financial training.

Golden advice. Leaving now to do this.

 

[Garbageyuk]

“Barzal only has speed”


That’s a ridiculous statement. He’s one of the best overall skaters in the NHL.

For an actual example of a player who “only has speed”, look no further than Paul Byron. Nothing but straight-line speed.

 

[hockeyisgud]

just be a better skater

 

[sinDer]

Take the best players in the world of any sports, make them play against each others and of course some of them will look « bad ».

I think a way to realize how good they actually are is to watch them live during warm-ups. Just pay attention to those 4th line players who can barely score in the NHL and yet be impressed by how hard and accurate they shoot puck and how quick their hands are.

 

[Garbageyuk]

just be a better skater

I’m just going to start being more handsome, taller, smarter, and richer from now on. All my problems are solved; so glad I found this thread.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Watching isles/habes game got me thinking.
I know it more matter of its nhl and everyone good skaters. but it not really the case. There are terrible skaters who slow and lose every race. Charas 12 feet tall and doesnt try and still winning races. Barzal only has speed but makes him dangerous.
Why not just be a better skater, it not like hand eye coordination which is hard to train. Best players in the world always speedy, why not be?

Luc Robatialle is looking at his speed times and thinking "how the f*** did I get into the hall fame being so slow" he passes this discussion Dave Andreychuck "No idea--but it is Sunday and it polish our cup ring day"

 

[Djp]

Watching isles/habes game got me thinking.
I know it more matter of its nhl and everyone good skaters. but it not really the case. There are terrible skaters who slow and lose every race. Charas 12 feet tall and doesnt try and still winning races. Barzal only has speed but makes him dangerous.
Why not just be a better skater, it not like hand eye coordination which is hard to train. Best players in the world always speedy, why not be?

Why are you then a stroke fan?

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

What a reference, A+.

Why he bad when can be good? Makes no sense. OP is enlightening.

 

[Archijerej]

Yeah. Who let Chara play in this league? If the guy cared, he would have learned how to skate.

 

[HansonBro]

My Lambo can do 300+mph but can't even fit a case of beer under the hood. Completely useless

 

[Puck Dogg]

Dave Andreychuk disagrees with the premise of this thread.

 

[Juicy Pop]

I should just... earn more money?

What a concept.

 

[Auston Marlander]

Totally.
I played at a reasonably high level until I was 20 or so (no hope of going pro, in North America at least). When I was 18 or 19 I scrimmaged with some AHL guys in a summer training session - my god they skated absolute circles around me and most of the guys I knew. And these AHL guys had no hope of making the NHL (at least for a lengthy period of time). Their skating wasn't NHL quality, and it still made the rest of us look silly.

Also, this thread is weird. And hilarious.

We are in the same boat. Even playing with well past their prime retired NHL players was major humble pie. These are guys who were in their late 40s skating circles around 25-35 year old players who all played fair high level hockey.

 

[Phil McKraken]

it not like hand eye coordination which is hard to train.

You can train hand-eye coordination just as much as you can train speed. Some people just respond better to practice than others.

 

[Buck Nasty]

Sorry im Finnish and dont care about english especially today.

Exactly what martin skoula said. Like hockey players skating since 3 years old. I know bodies different and sizes strength changes things, but its the most fundamental skill in hockey especally todays games. Best point made is true cant have all fundamentals, but I just think it the easiest way to be successful nhl player
Barzal not a good example sure he is great at lots but what is most dangerous is speed. Oconner on avalanche is all speed. Cogliano made career out of speed.

Sorry, that wasn't nice of me to poke fun at your grammar, especially if you are English as a second language.

Maybe I was being mean because I don't like your take. ALL NHLers are insanely good skaters. I played Major Junior 25 years ago and I can tell you that guys who became marginal NHL skaters were excellent in Junior.

Its the thing people work the hardest on.

If it was just that easy everyone would.

What you are seeing when you are watching an NHL game and someone look bad it just the "by comparison" the McDavids, Kanes and Karlssons are just otherworldly.

I have friends who are much better than I ever was make the show for a stretch. All of them could not believe how fast the NHL was.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

This. There was a part in that short lived Norm MacDonald sitcom where he played an ex journeyman pro hockey player, and his friends were giving him the gears about being a shitty hockey player, and he said “wait, I was only a crappy player compared to OTHER pro hockey players”.

None of these guys are bad skaters, it’s all relative

Norm was a great show

 

[KCbus]

Have you ever gone ice skating? It's hard.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

You can train hand-eye coordination just as much as you can train speed. Some people just respond better to practice than others.

Luc Robitaille has said before that using a tennis ball out of a tennis machine helped him train his hand eye.

 

[PROGFAN66]

Watching isles/habes game got me thinking.
I know it more matter of its nhl and everyone good skaters. but it not really the case. There are terrible skaters who slow and lose every race. Charas 12 feet tall and doesnt try and still winning races. Barzal only has speed but makes him dangerous.
Why not just be a better skater, it not like hand eye coordination which is hard to train. Best players in the world always speedy, why not be?

I come from a basketball and soccer background where you run, dribble, pass, pass receive and shoot while on your feet. However, in hockey you are constantly doing these things while on skates skating backwards and forwards. Most people have a hard time running backwards to begin with on your feet let alone on skates.

In addition, you need to learn to avoid being hit and where you can hit a player in hockey. I really admire the skill set of the NHL players especially the position players.

 

[FrozenJagrt]

I see a lot of bad threads on HFBoards and I don't get it. Just post better threads.

 

[Number 57]

The point he's trying to make is that these guys have been skating for 20-30 years, practicing daily and have access to the best skating coaches in the world. Yet, some of them have awful technique and you can argue some NHLers would be considered slow even for the AHL. It's got to make you wonder.

It's what I call the Hal Gill disease... basically you've been playing hockey every day of your life for 30 years, you've reached the NHL and you still can't take a proper slap shot?????

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Bad skater?

Be a goalie.

Problem solved.

Thing is though goalies should be one of the strongest skaters.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Dave Andreychuk disagrees with the premise of this thread.

Buddy looked like he was skating on sand.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Thing is though goalies should be one of the strongest skaters.

They are lol, watch them skate other positions in practice. Silky smooth.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Why can’t everybody skate like McDavid??

Absurd question, I’m pretty sure anyone in the NHL wins a race against anybody in this forum.