[Dion]

Ken Dryden on goaltending

“Look at a picture of Ken Dryden,” instructs the five-time Stanley Cup champion. “Then look at a picture of, for example, Ben Bishop. Both big guys. Different eras. Put them side-by-side. There you are."

“What’s happening right now is goaltenders are wearing equipment not for protection but to fill the net. They might SAY it’s for protection … but we know better. Patrick (Roy) was the first guy to start cheating. Putting in webbing and stuff like that. I think we should introduce today’s goaltenders to Kevlar.

“In our era, and before me, one of the most exciting plays in hockey was Bobby Hull, Frank Mahovlich, Guy (Lafleur) steaming down the wing, taking a big slapshot and picking the corner.

“Because in today’s game, with the goaltenders’ equipment, there is no corner. There’s nothing to shoot at.

“The majority of the goals today come from scrums in front of the net. Not exactly pretty goals. Because the shots aren’t there.”

Guy Lafleur on the lack of creatvity in the game

"But also, it’s the type of game played now. That’s why you don’t see more goals. They get to the red line and they dump it in. It’s a chasing game — all the time. When they have the puck, they get rid of it. Instead of entering the zone and trying to make a play.

“It seems like that’s a lot easier for everybody. For me, as an ex-player, it’s a boring game. You don’t see the pure talent of the individual because they aren’t willing to exploit it. They’re stuck in a system. Most of the teams in the league — with a few exceptions — all look alike.

“The game today lacks creativity. That’s what you need. That’s what people want.”

“But you don’t see the Gilbert Perreaults anymore. You don’t see the Keith Tkachuks or the Rick Tocchets, Pat Verbeeks, either, the guys who play a big, strong, tough game and also score 30, 35, 40 goals every year. That’s why I have so much respect for Ovechkin. Five-six body checks — good body checks — every night, always involved and still scores 45 to 50 goals a year. Amazing. He deserves a lot of respect, this guy.”

“People will say everybody thinks the game in his era was better,” admits Lafleur, with a shrug. “No, no. For me, that’s not the point. I love the game. I want to see creativity, I want to see great goals. I want ‘Wow!’ There’s not enough ‘Wow!’ in the game anymore. You see … some. But not on a regular enough basis.”

“To me, the game should be like it was in our day: A tie, one point each. That’s it. You walk away. Go home. No five minutes, no four-on-four, no three-on-there, no what do you call it? Shootout? Now, if a team loses, it gets a point.

“A point? What for? Losing? To me, that ridiculous.”

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...ake-nhl-better