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Originally Posted by CroFlames
Man go watch a Stanley Cup Final from the 70s or early 80s.
Half the team lollygags on the ice it’s like watching beer league. It comes down to the athlete himself and those athletes are no where near todays athlete.
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I'm 64 years old and watched most of the Finals from the 70's and into the early 80's. It was also a different style of game back then. Players were on the ice for 2 minute plus shifts compared to the 30 seconds we see today. Players would coast with short bursts of speed when making a play.
Gretzky played in the late 70's in the WHA and then the Oilers in the 80's. Are you suggesting he isn't the best player of all time?
The 72 Summit series against the Russians was a great example of contrasting styles of play and conditioning. Team Canada learned that the Russians were a much quicker team and that they trained like the players do today. Plus the Russians played a puck possession game that NHL players weren't used too
Team Canada showed up to camp out of shape and as the series progressed so did their conditioning. In the end they adapted to the Russian game and eked out a series win over the Russians.
Today teams play a puck possession game like the Russians did in 72.
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The goalies of old are simply not in the same conversation as Roy Hasek or Brodeur.
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Ken Dryden and his size (6'4") plus the bigger equipment would be coveted by every team in the league.