Quote:
Originally Posted by saillias
It was pure crap btw.
I mean unless you really liked the Red Wings
And if we're having a discussion about the modern state of the game, the hockey right now is not the most entertaining. I feel like hockey peaked for entertainment back in 06-09. An NHL game is very mechanical, very systems oriented, a circling, possession chess match. The narrative around the league right now is "wow the speed of the game!" Players are not faster, it's a crock. It's just the best way to score goals now, run around in circles until the other team is tired, goal.
|
Are we watching a different sport? Mechanical? 1995-2003 was a chess match. Jason Weimer and Steve Begin were part time water skiiers, part time 4th liners.
It is systematic, but far more dynamic. The "new" NHL transitioned from 1 PP specialist and 5 solid D (old system, bonus if you can have a offensive D that could play D) to having 5 puck moving D and maybe 1 stay at home guy. We say in the playoffs, everyone last year was activating their D, not just us. And strategy was all about pressuring and hammering the D to just try to wear them down over the coarse of the playoffs. A Before 2004, you would occationally see Sergei Gonchar or Sandis Ozonlinsh jump into the rush but that was kind of it.
NHL is all about skating. I will agree that the open ice hits and scrums left with the obstruction, but I guess it is what it is. It was going to go with all those concussion problems anyways.