Why don't they....

[VintageHky]

Why don't they take the helemts off the players,use the older thinner chest protectors,smaller elbow pads without the big plastic cap on the end...and see how long before the players start realizing that they need to be respectful of each other.
I am foa a hard "fought"(using this word loosely but not for the intention of the term) skate to the net,shoot the puck hard type of game but it appears with the new type of equipment to "protect"the players becasue they are faster and bigger.Well if they are faster and bigger they can handle the type of pads the real players wore of yesteryear.
So far all I've heard is lip service that we are talking in committe to correct the problem. BS....Make it no tolerance "touching"(checks) to the back or evena a push hard ,intentioanl or unintentional...appears to cause more problems with the explaination of intent of play.
BTW Go back to wooden sticks if you're worried about faster shots w/ no helemts....

 

[habsheaven]

I have been preaching for all of this for years. It's not rocket science.

 

[#31]

Same here...agree 100%

 

[VintageHky]

Taking the fighting out of the game is not an answer..What's wrong with getting an old fashion arse kicking....It will eliminate the cheap sh..t going on in today's game.
Put a glove in the face --guess what....If one is going to be afraid of the consequences of getting his arse kicked he won't put that glove in the face....
If you're not a fighter--do what you best--skate and shoot.

Amazing what the BS they "discuss"on NHL LIVE--curtals my inneards.

 

[quincy]

MacTavish got his a concussion after he retired when he took a puck to the head during practice. A player (I forget who) tossed him a helmet, and it was all he could do not to issue a suspension.

I'm all for easing off the protective padding on players. 'Cause it's not padding - it's hardshell armor. The only player for whom I'm prepared to cut a break is the goalie, but for them I'd like to see smaller pads mandated.

 

[SkyFire47]

too much money involved with the manufacturers and sponsors. plus the armor isn't a bad thing for kids growing up to play.

 

[will-411]

Forget about the manufacturers and sponsors - if you've got $100 million tied up in Kovalchuk, do you want to lose him for the season the first time he gets a medium slash across the wrists? Especially when a $40 piece of plastic would have stopped it?

The equipment today has allowed players to be more reckless. And not just the equipment on players - the giveaway boards and glass, the tear away posts in the net have allowed players to go full out all the time with much less worry of incidental injury. For every improvement made to make the game safer, the players have amped up the danger level by going faster and being more reckless.

Personally what I'd like to see? Make it illegal to make the first point of contact with any part of the forearm, unless it is tight to the body. No more pushing, and the requirement that you watch your speed or you'll end up in the glass too.

But none of us played pro hockey, so as far as the NHL rulesmakers are concerned we can't have an opinion about safety in hockey because we weren't amongst the priveleged few.

Cory

 

[suitman19]

You may think it is a great scenario.... until a giant like Chara or BYFUGLIEN at 250+lbs hits a player that is 5/8 or 5/9 and 175. They will get frickin killed.

I love old fashioned hockey - but that is what it is old fashioned.

Most of your heroes of yesteryear can't hold a candle to the speed and size of the game today. It is a different athlete. Look at the NFL - the lifespan of a Running Back that can run a 4.4 40 yard dash is about 2.5 years today. They have D Linemen that can run under 5.0 and weigh over 315.

The real answer is to make the penalties for illegal hits and acts - so strong - that teams can not afford to let them happen. make the team go a man down for the length of the suspension. Shorten the roster - that will get the teams attention.

Unfortunately today - you have to re-start at the top - the NHL office - and work down through the teams to the players. When a few start losing their jobs - things will start changing.

Bruce

 

[edthesandwich]

It's happening in every sport -- we're seeing bigger, faster players enter the game and guys are getting hurt at unprecedented rates as a result.

Eventually, the league is going to need to either make the ice surfaces bigger, or shorten things up to 4-on-4 to weed out the less skilled players and open things up for those who make the cut. You'll still have jarring hits, but they'll be fewer and farther between, in theory.

 

[hadesvengeance]

Lol well it's not that they're all bigger,I played with guys 6'4-6'8 all the time and they moved fast.I played 230 at 6 feet but I worked out like a demon and ran all the freakin time.Don't give me this bigger stronger crap,we played with smaller guys as well but they had mean streaks lol.You had to or you got mushed lol.You also knew if you hit their star someone was coming out with gloves dropped.We all knew it and you expected it,it's a tough game no doubt about it.
I'm all for the changes to equipment,why the hell do you need armor lol!!!Cept goalies,and as for kids....no better time for them to learn.Sorry but I taught my kids to play fair and use common sense when playing.No one wants to seriously hurt someone ,if you do then maybe jail is a better place for you.Bottom line is it's still a game....
But we also never rammed a guys head into the boards from behind or checked a guy when he's not looking.Accidents happened,of course but you used your head most of the time lol.There was respect for another guy,kinda like no punching a guy in his junk!!!!

 

[VintageHky]

Discussion on VS was 1st topic smaller equipment--somebody might be getting it---
but the rest of the results for Concussions--Too damn silly.
I guess i figure if they elimnate the armour type euiqpment things will fall into place....the players will think about the type of hit they render with the smaller equipmnet.

 

[boredinguelph]

Smaller padding both players feel the effect of the big hit and will reduce it because there is a chance you both get hurt instead of just the one getting hit with the heavy plastic. Kids it is great but as they move up the ladder padding should get less and less

 

[Hama]

Attitude and respect is what's missing - it's all about doing whatever it takes to win the puck - and then the game...

The old time players may not have liked each other - but they all shared a healthy respect for each other on the ice. The point was to get the puck and score - not it's all about obliterating someone into next year to make them think twice before touching the puck. Players even 20 yrs ago knew to keep the sticks down, because if you didn't, there would always be someone to remind to do so.

Unfortunately the armor is now necessary - when you have pucks flying around at 100 mph on a regular basis, that small 3 inch disk of frozen rubber is gonna cause a lot of damage when it hits anyone. Take away the padding - you're going to see a lot more broken bones - not from hitting, but from the impact of shots.

 

[chefjason]

I seem to recall a guy from the 60's who could shoot the puck 100mph+(hull) with a wood stick no less, shot speed have not increased over time, and speed, I will admitt has gone up a little, but over the last 20 years, but I would not want to see the rocket playing today, he would have litterally killed chara, for hitting pac (just ask tiny thompson), but thats beside the piont, it was all about the protection, take away all that armour and guys would think twice about catching someone with their head down, it hurts both players, I agree that the hard plastic must go, I've been hit with it in the head and it hurts, even with my helmet.
just my rambling two cents.

 

[VintageHky]

"Hockey is not simply a battle of techniques but also a battle of character."


Going off the deep end here--WHY? WHY? They discuss the problems at hand and players continue to have actions that warrant media discussions.....
Take the friggin hitting out of hockey and see what type of game we have.Some will say a better game .It's NOT about trying to put an opponent through the boards or glass or laying flat on his arse...Coaches teach these guys old fashion hip checks and leaning techniques to take the man off the puck which is just as effective.
Bottom line of the game is who has the most goals--Yes?
Hits highlights just happen--don't go out of the way to try and make the film....