A Potentially Unpopular Opinion: I've Grown Tired of Playoff Beards

[Big Phil]

Okay, flame away, or maybe even agree. Why does a red-blooded Canadian guy like me get tired of playoff beards now? Here is why. EVERYONE has them. It started with the Islanders and correct me if I am wrong but Butch Goring, among others, is often credited for starting this process of not shaving until he was bounced out. Even in the 1990s there were players that did it, but not everyone did it and it was still sort of a bit of a novelty. Look at the Red Wings even, Fedorov didn't do it, neither did Shanahan. I don't even know if Yzerman was able to grow a good one. Never saw Lidstrom with one. Avalance? Never saw it with Sakic either. Claude Lemieux for all of his long runs didn't have it either.

So in a way it was a novelty. But now? Practically the whole team does it and to some of the players it looks awful. Not everyone can pull off the look. I know there was a reporter a while back who said that he hated playoff beards because that is the image we see when a team wins a Cup. A captain with a big bushy beard, or in Crosby's case someone who can't grow a proper one (Malkin too). He got a lot of pushback against that but he partly has a point. Look at the images of Beliveau, Armstrong, Orr, Esposito, Bossy, Potvin, Trottier, Gretzky, Messier, Mario, etc. They've all been through battles on the ice and yet they still look the same as they always have. I am not saying the league needs to do anything, of course not, nor do I think they need a New York Yankees or Disney World employees policy implemented (no beards) because that is a personal thing for a team, but have they jumped the shark? Has the novelty worn off?

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[Uncle Rotter]

Agree. One of the worst cliches in today's NHL.

 

[Captain Bowie]

Who cares?

 

[quoipourquoi]

Lemieux, Shanahan, and Sakic all had facial hair in the 1997 playoffs. Shanahan had a pretty good beard going back then.

 

[Praetorian Caps]

Not going to lie; I'm too lazy to shave on a regular basis so I'm just using this trend as an excuse not to.

 

[Sadekuuro]

Lemieux, Shanahan, and Sakic all had facial hair in the 1997 playoffs. Shanahan had a pretty good beard going back then.

Lidstrom as well.

 

[Killion]

Okay, flame away, or maybe even agree. Why does a red-blooded Canadian guy like me get tired of playoff beards now? Here is why. EVERYONE has them. It started with the Islanders and correct me if I am wrong but Butch Goring, among others, is often credited for starting this process of not shaving until he was bounced out. Even in the 1990s there were players that did it, but not everyone did it and it was still sort of a bit of a novelty. Look at the Red Wings even, Fedorov didn't do it, neither did Shanahan. I don't even know if Yzerman was able to grow a good one. Never saw Lidstrom with one. Avalance? Never saw it with Sakic either. Claude Lemieux for all of his long runs didn't have it either.

So in a way it was a novelty. But now? Practically the whole team does it and to some of the players it looks awful. Not everyone can pull off the look. I know there was a reporter a while back who said that he hated playoff beards because that is the image we see when a team wins a Cup. A captain with a big bushy beard, or in Crosby's case someone who can't grow a proper one (Malkin too). He got a lot of pushback against that but he partly has a point. Look at the images of Beliveau, Armstrong, Orr, Esposito, Bossy, Potvin, Trottier, Gretzky, Messier, Mario, etc. They've all been through battles on the ice and yet they still look the same as they always have. I am not saying the league needs to do anything, of course not, nor do I think they need a New York Yankees or Disney World employees policy implemented (no beards) because that is a personal thing for a team, but have they jumped the shark? Has the novelty worn off?

... fun thread!.... and ya, I agree, its a novelty that never did tickle my funny bone. always thought it was sort of "frat boy"... "collegial".... now, I really dont care either way but heres the thing.... some of these players should under no circumstances just let it all hang out & not shave as they are incapable of growing a beard, a mustache, any facial hair at all really without looking like some kinda genetic freak.... a Mutant.... but then, thats I suppose part of the charm, the joke, that they just dont care about anything other than the Cup, vanity be damned... like their all part of some Holy Order on a Mission from God, Monks, and that part of this Monastic Order's rituals forbids shaving...

.... yet, if they really wanted to project the spirit of dedication.... why not go full on psycho Phil?... full bore... Silas the Monk.... Silas the Albino Assassin from Dan Browns the Da Vinci Code... homicidal maniac.... skin head, no facial hair.... after his daily shave, a couple of hours of self flagellation & mortification, strap on Celice cinched beyond painfully tight & he's out the door, onto the ice, good to go, a smile on his face and a song in his heart... Death Metal.... now, thats what you want in a hockey player... that'd be a lot more impressive & way way scarier than seeing some lame assed unfunny unattractive adolescent hipster middle school type blotchy botched job of a mess of a growth on your face huh?

If you can grow a FULL good looking beard & or moustache then fine, go for it, whatever turns your crank, enhances your appearance, no problemo. Just look after it, use "product", use a trimmer or scissors & style it properly, keep it neat be it a short, medium or long length, be it a Lanny McDonald or pencil moustache, full or shadow beard or whatever.... but this homeless look?... nope, not diggin it boys. Not liking the "group hair dye" jobbies, Mohicans & Algonquins, Iriquois cuts... the "bench skate by" tapping gloves after goals.... the wild goal celebrations you sometimes see, totally inappropriate unless its a Cup winner & or an OT winner or some such.... all gotten out of control starting in the late 70's. If your going to grow facial hair fine. Go Bruce Gamble. Mutton Chop Sideburns. Whatever crazy eccentric you want. Whatever makes YOU happy. Fill yer boots. But nail the look. No time for amateurs.

 

[Big Phil]

Lemieux, Shanahan, and Sakic all had facial hair in the 1997 playoffs. Shanahan had a pretty good beard going back then.

I am thinking Sakic during his Cup wins in 2001 and 1996. Both times he is lifting the Cup he is clean shaven. Shanahan as I remember had a goatee in 1997 so he was definitely shaving, and looking up the Cup picture in 1997 of the Wings there weren't a lot of playoff beards that I saw and this is the picture of them sprawled on the ice so it is right away.

Hard to find Lidstrom in the 1997 photo but I found one in 1998 and he is completely clean shaven. Claude Lemieux, maybe in 1997 he was sporting one, I can't remember, but ironically not in 1996 and 1995 when he actually won the Cup. I see some neatly trimmed goatees back then though.

What you saw back then was some neatly trimmed playoff beards for those that may have had them. Nowadays the players just seem to be more unrecognizable when they are lifting the Cup. Do I think it has jumped the shark a bit? Yeah.

 

[dr robbie]

Completely disagree. Playoff beards is one of my favorite traditions and I've been participating with my team (Pens) since I was able to grow facial hair. I don't really care how the tradition started, but I love that it's part of the game and part of the history. Also a great discussion starter for those that are not familiar with the tradition. Now, the only part I can sort of agree with are players that get a head start beard (Thornton, Burns) only on the basis that they look really unkept, but really, doesn't bother me too much.

 

[Big Phil]

Completely disagree. Playoff beards is one of my favorite traditions and I've been participating with my team (Pens) since I was able to grow facial hair. I don't really care how the tradition started, but I love that it's part of the game and part of the history. Also a great discussion starter for those that are not familiar with the tradition. Now, the only part I can sort of agree with are players that get a head start beard (Thornton, Burns) only on the basis that they look really unkept, but really, doesn't bother me too much.

"Unkept" is a pretty good word. When you look like a Viking, it isn't very camera friendly. But when 90% of the team does................

 

[Howie Hodge]

The drawbacks of High Def Television!

Exposing the follicularly challenged!!

But should they End The Curse here? Not sure.....

Gives the post some wings for certain.....

 

[blogofmike]

Gives the post some wings for certain.....
View attachment 122047

The kid can fight it all he wants, but it seems God doesn't want to see a Sidney Crosby playoff beard.

 

[Kyndig]

I agree, though I don't really care much one way or the other. If I was in the playoffs I'd still shave it off, beard gets too itchy for me.

Laine has a strong case for someone who needs to shave, things wispy and unnatural looking.

Opposite spectrum for Thornton and Burns. They look like Santa Clause on skates.

 

[Killion]

I agree, though I don't really care much one way or the other. If I was in the playoffs I'd still shave it off, beard gets too itchy for me.

Laine has a strong case for someone who needs to shave, things wispy and unnatural looking.

Opposite spectrum for Thornton and Burns. They look like Santa Clause on skates.

.... agree. though ya like you I'm somewhat ambivalent about it. if they wanna embrace that modern era "tradition" fine... but sure, some guys really shouldnt be bothering, looks absolutely absurd... Crosby included... opens himself up to ridicule & its not like he should be inviting anymore of that, gives some yet more reason to question his maturity, masculinity.... like he's somehow broken, stop developing in Junior High, Middle School... stuck in a time warp... a freak.... Bearded Lady.... Pinhead.... and ya see? Even I cant stop it once I get started on him or any other number of them & their appalling appearances.... makes ya itchy just looking at them... as in Man, that really looks uncomfortable & LOUSY. Lose it already. Stop embarrassing yourself already.

 

[Troubadour]

The drawbacks of High Def Television!

Exposing the follicularly challenged!!

But should they End The Curse here? Not sure.....

Gives the post some wings for certain.....
View attachment 122047

Sid is forever nineteen.

Btw I agree with Phil. It lost its edge. It's now almost prerequisite.

 

[jj cale]

It's a cliche now, i agree with bigphil, it's lost any luster it ever had and I don't think it ever had any to begin with.

Just a dumb tradition that took hold somehow, you have to do it now and that's why it has become so boring and cheesy.

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

7 or 8 years ago the Rangers did playoff mustaches

 

[SovietWings]

7 or 8 years ago the Rangers did playoff mustaches

If you told me the picture was taken in 1975 I would believe it. (only the Reebok and the ads are ruining it)

 

[ShelbyZ]

IIRC, for the 97, 98 and 2002 Red Wings, it was more "playoff goatees" grown by guys like Shanahan, Osgood, Kocur, McCarty, Draper, Maltby, Holmstrom, Ward, Brown and maybe a few others. Lidstrom jumped on the band wagon in 2002 along with guys like Duchesne and Olausson. The more traditional exception was Jamie Macoun, who in 1998 went from a standard mustache in the regular season to having his face covered 70% by hair in the playoffs.

In relation to the Wings Cup runs and playoff beards, I remember some local news coverage during the 1998 run where they were talking to Shanahan about playoff beards and he made some joke about Larry Murphy being so old he was growing playoff ear hair...

 

[Ishdul]

Are they even really playoff beards? The real long ones are ones that players have kept year round, even for multiple years. Giant long beards are more a general fashion trend that seem to have hit a wide range of age groups and ethnic backgrounds. I feel like every NBA, MLB and NFL team has at least one guy with a big beard that gets some marketing/promotion. It's not a trend I admire but I don't know that it's really different than pornstaches or the variety of horror show haircuts that have permeated popular culture over the years.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

ironically, it's the golden age of the NBA beard.

hell, even

 

[ICM1970]

I recall when it was only guys like Dwight Foster, Clark Gillies, and a few other guys who wore beards and they did it year round. Just like the canned music and dumb sound effects and the suits of armour, the playoff beards have become more of the cliched nonsense of the Bettman era of the game.

 

[Chili]

I was glad to see Derek Englund pick up the conference final trophy.

Tradition/superstition/habit, I dunno, do what feels right for you.

 

[Killion]

I recall when it was only guys like Dwight Foster, Clark Gillies, and a few other guys who wore beards and they did it year round. Just like the canned music and dumb sound effects and the suits of armour, the playoff beards have become more of the cliched nonsense of the Bettman era of the game.

Indeed. While reputedly popularized by the 1980 NY Islanders, I believe the first bearded player to win the Cup was Cowboy (he participated in Rodeos as a Calf Roper) Bill Flett of the 74 Flyers, and he wore that beard year round. Bob Dailey another. Played for the Canucks followed by several years in Philadelphia as well.... Beards simply were not all that popular with players back in the 70's let alone the 60's or prior to that (unheard of really).

Totally unacceptable in fact. Even mustaches.... very very rare youd see that in the 50's through to the mid 60's. Frowned upon by the hockey establishment. Most of the clubs had dress & grooming regulations, some of them strictly enforced as was the case in Toronto with the Leafs. Sideburns & longer hair followed by mustaches' gaining acceptance but it was a full time look for players, not a sort of "bonding" issue.

... and if I'm not mistaken, didnt Lou Lamoriello in Toronto "ban" beards, facial hair & long hair just this past season?.... not that it mattered.... club bounced early.... REAL early.... boo hoo. ... thats right I said it.... I'm allowed.... 1) I'm from Toronto. 2) I'm a sorta kinda a Leaf fan, no choice in the matter, they got to me at a young age when I was vulnerable & they were winning Cups &... 3) I'm in charge around here so complain about my Troll jab all you want... your complaints Leaflanders will be ignored....

 

[BenchBrawl]

It's fascinating how most baby boomers hate beards.I'm obviously painting with a broad brush here, but the trend is real.

Beards are fashionable in society at large today, so it's not a NHL playoffs thing anymore.