Quote:
Originally Posted by ricardodw
I think that the average NHL team speed has increase drastically over the last couple of years. Players that were considered adequate skaters a few years ago have been passed by players who are faster and better skaters.
There are not as many Flames players that would be able to play at the pace that Nashville plays that you think. Somehow the good teams have found and developed faster larger angrier players than the Flames and the lower echelon of the NHL have settled for.
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That is fair. Mike Gartner would still be considered fast today. Guys aren’t blowing out speed records across the board. Top guys aren’t necessarily faster, but speed at the bottom end is more important.
But teams like Nashville that play fast recognize that the puck moves faster than skaters. And you need to think the game fast and respond to it. So that could help the Flames mitigate their issues, but they have regressed on both fronts the past 2 years. Individual speed and collective speed of play. So disappointing