Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
A lot of long-time fans find today's games often boring. And there was a time when there were several odd-man rushes a period. The term 'end to end action' is synonymous with exciting hockey. It's also something you rarely see anymore.
Nostalgia may be a part of it. But that isn't all of it. Eric Duhatschek knows a bit about hockey. Fair to say he's a fan of the sport. And he was on the radio yesterday criticizing how dull and structured the game is today. His take is that in tight games nobody changes the stifling systems they play, and more goals would make teams have to play more aggressively to come back from behind.
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I do think nostalgia is a big part of it. Another significant part is that, comparatively, the average player in the 80s was horse poop compared to the average player now. I've occasionally looked at old games on youtube and the skating is nowhere near the same, defenders weren't nearly as effective, and the "stifling systems" Eric talks about are more the existence of an actual system rather than the general lack thereof back in the run-and-gun days.
I think the only effective (and unrealistic) way to increase scoring in the NHL is to find a way to handicap the defensemen. They're too good at closing down players, blocking / deflecting shots and generally keeping play to the outside. Browse some games from the early 80s and see how many times players are able to just tee off slapshots... that time and space doesn't exist anymore.