Quote:
Originally Posted by CroFlames
They make a difference, but it's nowhere near the difference between 80s goalies and today's.
Today's shots are improved because of training and practice. In the good ol days, players came to camp to get in shape. These days, if you come to camp out of shape, you get sent to the minors. Players have all sorts of skills coaches, including in the off-season, not least of which are shooting coaches. Training is the difference in today's players shot vs in the 80s.
I doubt even the great Al MacInnes gets an extra mile or two per hour on his clapper with a $300 composite.
Wooden sticks had flex too, people seem to forget.
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No, the difference is much greater than what you're suggesting.
Sure, if you compare MacInnes' best shot with lumber vs his best with a composite, the lumber probably holds up fairly well. But rarely is there time in a game to get the perfect shot off.
Where today's sticks make a huge difference is when you don't get that perfect shot. It's like perimeter-weighted clubs vs blades in golf. With forgiving clubs, you get 90-95% distance on a missed shot. With blades, you're lucky to get 60-70%.
Look at Tkachuk's goal last night. That shot is not possible with a piece of lumber. Well, by not possible, I mean he is not getting a strong shot on net, he's pushing a flub into the corner.
Goalie pads are completely different now, no doubt about it. But so is everything else, which is why the scoring numbers have only changed by as much as they have.