OEL tries on 80's equipment

[helax]

He looks like a wounded gazell in them skates. Very funny clip!

Coyotes star Oliver Ekman Larsson tries on 80's equipment

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[Mbraunm]

Hilarious!! From a 92 mph shot to 69 mph.

 

[Mbraunm]

Next they should let an NHL goalie try out 80s goalie equipment. Would be absolutely hilarious to watch-especially with the absence padding to support the butterfly position...with 20 pounds of added water weight. lol

 

[Laineux]

I've always wanted to see current NHL stars play an exhibition game with old gear. It would probably look quite horrible. Of course a big part of that is that they aren't accustomed to that kind of equipment, but it makes you respect the old stars more.

 

[helax]

I've always wanted to see current NHL stars play an exhibition game with old gear. It would probably look quite horrible. Of course a big part of that is that they aren't accustomed to that kind of equipment, but it makes you respect the old stars more.

By they look of OEL, ancle sprains would be the number one injury :p

 

[kerrabria]

First, gotta point out that he said "the game has evolved in the past 15-20 years". 15-20 years ago, the 80s were still 15-20 years in the past.

Second, I think this needs to be brought up more in the discussions comparing players from one generation to the next. Yeah obviously players train better nowadays, but they have the advantage of equipment that is the product of actual research and engineering. The point Oliver made about the flex on slapshots is a perfect example of that.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Confirms a lot of the talking points in our standard “how good were 80s players” threads.

Ankle support in older skates was a fraction of what it is today. People didn’t magically become better ice skaters in the past 20 years. They didn’t grow an extra ice skating muscle in their leg. Put a modern player in that equipment and *poof* suddenly you see the exact same posture, speed, edgework, etc that you see in “terrible” players from yesteryear.

Same with the stick. It’s a different game when the shot velocity depends entirely on your ability to bend wood. No multi-layer synthetics generating flex to actively accelerate the puck off your stick. Just your body and a piece of wood. 90mph —> 70mph just by changing the stick.

It would be fascinating to see a goalie try a complete set of 80s equipment, but my guess is we’ll never see it due to insurance liability.

 

[Pez68]

Confirms a lot of the talking points in our standard “how good were 80s players” threads.

Ankle support in older skates was a fraction of what it is today. People didn’t magically become better ice skaters in the past 20 years. They didn’t grow an extra ice skating muscle in their leg. Put a modern player in that equipment and *poof* suddenly you see the exact same posture, speed, edgework, etc that you see in “terrible” players from yesteryear.

Same with the stick. It’s a different game when the shot velocity depends entirely on your ability to bend wood. No multi-layer synthetics generating flex to actively accelerate the puck off your stick. Just your body and a piece of wood. 90mph —> 70mph just by changing the stick.

It would be fascinating to see a goalie try a complete set of 80s equipment, but my guess is we’ll never see it due to insurance liability.

He's also never played with, or in, any of that equipment. Makes a huge difference... I would imagine if he skated a few months with it, you're seeing different results.

 

[tarheelhockey]

He's also never played with, or in, any of that equipment. Makes a huge difference... I would imagine if he skated a few months with it, you're seeing different results.

He’d adjust to it, of course. His ankles would get stronger and he’d learn the limitations of what’s possible in those old skates. I doubt the shot would get much better, considering he’s already an all star caliber NHL defenseman who knows how to shoot with the best of them.

The point is, he’d never get to the level of taking 106 mph slapshots, or skating like a modern pro player. The equipment makes a true difference. This stuff puts guys like Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux in perspective.

 

[TeamRenzo]

Confirms a lot of the talking points in our standard “how good were 80s players” threads.

Ankle support in older skates was a fraction of what it is today. People didn’t magically become better ice skaters in the past 20 years. They didn’t grow an extra ice skating muscle in their leg. Put a modern player in that equipment and *poof* suddenly you see the exact same posture, speed, edgework, etc that you see in “terrible” players from yesteryear.

Same with the stick. It’s a different game when the shot velocity depends entirely on your ability to bend wood. No multi-layer synthetics generating flex to actively accelerate the puck off your stick. Just your body and a piece of wood. 90mph —> 70mph just by changing the stick.

It would be fascinating to see a goalie try a complete set of 80s equipment, but my guess is we’ll never see it due to insurance liability.

I think the could get goalies to try out the older equipment if the shooters were using sticks from the same era. It would be fun, maybe something they could do at the ASG.

 

[Pez68]

He’d adjust to it, of course. His ankles would get stronger and he’d learn the limitations of what’s possible in those old skates. I doubt the shot would get much better, considering he’s already an all star caliber NHL defenseman who knows how to shoot with the best of them.

The point is, he’d never get to the level of taking 106 mph slapshots, or skating like a modern pro player. The equipment makes a true difference. This stuff puts guys like Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux in perspective.

No, but he would get his shot a lot closer to the 90 or whatever it is with a composite stick after using the wood stick for a while. Totally different shooting with wood. He was still shooting like he had a composite in his hand.

Look at guys in the early 90s. Most of them were still using wood sticks, and shooting 90-105. Iafrate, MacInnis...

 

[HollaHaula]

I think the could get goalies to try out the older equipment if the shooters were using sticks from the same era. It would be fun, maybe something they could do at the ASG.

I thought the Canes were already using goalies from the 80s...?

 

[byrath]

''Look at those legs", indeed. Blocking a slapshot was an act of extreme bravery back then. Screening the goalie took some serious fortitude too. The game is played much differently now, in large part due to the body armor they wear.

 

[Mbraunm]

I remember the Alumni Heritage Classic between the Canadiens and the Oilers. Surprisingly, Larry Robinson really stood out and was blowing by everyone in that game. When asked why he stood out like this he replied that he bought the newest skate model and it had a dramatic effect on his skating since he retired.
Players don’t have more talent between generations. It takes tens of thousands of years for the tiniest of steps forward in terms of human evolution. However, equipment, and to a slightly lesser extent exercise make it appear like players have evolved. They haven’t-at all.

 

[Boxscore]

Confirms a lot of the talking points in our standard “how good were 80s players” threads.

Ankle support in older skates was a fraction of what it is today. People didn’t magically become better ice skaters in the past 20 years. They didn’t grow an extra ice skating muscle in their leg. Put a modern player in that equipment and *poof* suddenly you see the exact same posture, speed, edgework, etc that you see in “terrible” players from yesteryear.

Same with the stick. It’s a different game when the shot velocity depends entirely on your ability to bend wood. No multi-layer synthetics generating flex to actively accelerate the puck off your stick. Just your body and a piece of wood. 90mph —> 70mph just by changing the stick.

It would be fascinating to see a goalie try a complete set of 80s equipment, but my guess is we’ll never see it due to insurance liability.

This is all absolutely right. Technology and advancements in sports is the same as other walks of life and professions. Give Michael Bay the same special effects limitations and props that George Lucas had in the 70's when he made the original Star Wars, and his movies would look just as "hokey." Advancements in CGI doesn't make Bay a better storyteller and director than Lucas. Give Babe Ruth today's bats and pitching machines to practice on every day and see how much greater he would be, which is scary.

Sporting equipment, vehicles, computers, etc. have all improved drastically over the years. These are tools that professionals use - it helps the professional but doesn't make them more talented - just aides and maximizes their talent. Could you imagine Bobby Hull shooting with a 1-piece composite of today?

 

[Filthy Dangles]

here come all the old 'back in my day' guys

 

[tarheelhockey]

No, but he would get his shot a lot closer to the 90 or whatever it is with a composite stick after using the wood stick for a while. Totally different shooting with wood. He was still shooting like he had a composite in his hand.

Look at guys in the early 90s. Most of them were still using wood sticks, and shooting 90-105. Iafrate, MacInnis...

This is a good article on the impact of stick technology, particularly the rise of composite sticks:

Stick shift: hockey stick technology is ‘great equalizer' | The Star

Here's the upshot:

For years, being proficient at shooting quickly and hard immediately made any player stand out on the ice. But because of the quickness of the strike, those types of shots either had to be practiced incessantly, the shooter had to have God-given ability or the shooter's arms and core needed to be considerably stronger than his counterparts in order for a shot to stand out.
The composite stick changed that forever. New sticks haven't made the top level shooter better. It has given everyone a chance to “unload” a powerful shot.

Now, again, OEL is one of the best goal-scoring defensemen in the world. It's absolutely possible he could work his way up to a 100mph slap shot with enough practice on a wood stick. But it's also very much a possibility that he doesn't have the god-given talent and strength of guys like MacInnis and Iafrate, who were able to do things with a stick that nobody else in the world could do over a very long period of time. Simply working a lot on his shot wasn't enough to make, say, Paul Coffey as hard a shooter as Al MacInnis.

 

[Mbraunm]

here come all the old 'back in my day' guys

I disagree with this sentiment. The NHL is the most exciting and fast paced product I have ever seen. However, the fact is being acknowledged here that players haven’t evolved in terms of talent. The game has evolved.

 

[ElGuapo]

No phrase for "back swing" in Swedish?!

 

[Beerfish]

That was awesome.

Freaking millennials!!!

 

[helax]

No phrase for "back swing" in Swedish?!

"Baksving" but you know, moving to the states working as a pro hockey player, easier to use the same lingo as at work

 

[Lshap]

This is all absolutely right. Technology and advancements in sports is the same as other walks of life and professions. Give Michael Bay the same special effects limitations and props that George Lucas had in the 70's when he made the original Star Wars, and his movies would look just as "hokey." Advancements in CGI doesn't make Bay a better storyteller and director than Lucas. Give Babe Ruth today's bats and pitching machines to practice on every day and see how much greater he would be, which is scary.

Sporting equipment, vehicles, computers, etc. have all improved drastically over the years. These are tools that professionals use - it helps the professional but doesn't make them more talented - just aides and maximizes their talent. Could you imagine Bobby Hull shooting with a 1-piece composite of today?

Funny - the example that immediately popped into my head was Bobby Hull. The sheer power he had to unleash a 100mph bullet 50 years ago would be amplified to a scary degree with today's composites.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

in terms of the raw MPH on a fully wound up slapshot, there is not much if any difference in wood v composite. some will say wood is actually better for this. when people say 'x would have shot 120 with composite' are wrong.

the difference comes in how quick you can release and the force you can generate on shap shots or shots you don't have to windup for.

by customizing how easy or hard it is to load the stick (Flex) and the release (kick) point.

 

[Pez68]

This is a good article on the impact of stick technology, particularly the rise of composite sticks:

Stick shift: hockey stick technology is ‘great equalizer' | The Star

Here's the upshot:

For years, being proficient at shooting quickly and hard immediately made any player stand out on the ice. But because of the quickness of the strike, those types of shots either had to be practiced incessantly, the shooter had to have God-given ability or the shooter's arms and core needed to be considerably stronger than his counterparts in order for a shot to stand out.
The composite stick changed that forever. New sticks haven't made the top level shooter better. It has given everyone a chance to “unload” a powerful shot.

Now, again, OEL is one of the best goal-scoring defensemen in the world. It's absolutely possible he could work his way up to a 100mph slap shot with enough practice on a wood stick. But it's also very much a possibility that he doesn't have the god-given talent and strength of guys like MacInnis and Iafrate, who were able to do things with a stick that nobody else in the world could do over a very long period of time. Simply working a lot on his shot wasn't enough to make, say, Paul Coffey as hard a shooter as Al MacInnis.

That article is mostly nonsense. The only accurate part is about sticks for kids being much, much better, and the change in effort required for wrist shots. "Back in the day"....almost none of the kids could load/flex a wood stick. And the sticks were much heavier. So of course kids can shoot better now.

Wrist shots "back in the day" were taken differently, most of the time, because of the effort required to flex and load the wood stick. As mentioned, it was mostly back foot to front foot weight transfer if you wanted a hard wrist shot. Guys still shoot like that(see: Ovechkin). But even with wood sticks, there were guys that had already learned how to lean on them and take snappers/wristers off their front foot... Or push/pull snap shots. It was just more difficult.

I've played hockey for 30+ years. I used wood sticks. I used aluminum sticks. I now use composite sticks. My release is quicker and my wrist/snapshots slightly harder with composites. The great equalizer? Hyperbole. There are plenty of guys in the NHL that still don't have a very hard shot, or a very quick release, or an accurate shot, even with composite sticks... Shooting is no different than any other skill. Some guys are natural shooters, others struggle with it. Having an elite release and a top-tier wrist/snap shot, velocity wise....still takes God-given ability, great core/arm strength, and incessant practice....

Another big difference now is... the knowledge about what makes a great shooter is everywhere. Kids can go on YouTube and see how the elite shooters are firing the puck, and mimic them. How-to videos are EVERYWHERE. Now they have sticks that actually allow them to mimic them... So they can grow up being able to mimic pros most of their youth career, instead of only being able to do that once they are near full grown.

I coach kids, and really, it's awesome that I can lean on my stick to load it, and show them how power is generated, and they can actually do the same thing... When I was in that 8-12 year old range....I would have a better chance of breaking my wrist than flexing that wood stick how my former-pro coach was flexing it...

It is also worth mentioning, whatever gains have been made from composite sticks, have been offset by the size and weight of goalie equipment... Goalies are drastically quicker and more athletic now than they ever have been. Plus, the butterfly.

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

haha, that was good