OEL tries on 80's equipment

[bambamcam4ever]

They absolutely would be scoring at insane levels if similar technology hadn’t balanced the scales for defenders (bulletproof shin pads, mandatory visors, lightweight sticks) and goaltenders (literally every single piece of equipment on their body).

The introduction of plastics and composite materials fundamentally changed the way the sport was played from 1980 to 2000. It wasn’t just sticks.

Lightweight sticks also changed and improved the way defense was played, it's not as simple as whippier sticks=more goals

 

[PenguinSpeed]

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

-Al Iafrate had a 106 MPH slap shot with a wooden stick. Today that has to be pushing 120 MPH. Chara doesnt not have the hardest shot all time, not even close.

 

[Riddum]

In the 80s, Ovi would score 250 goals a season, even he played with almost no equipment, a wooden stick and figure skates.

 

[Pez68]

They absolutely would be scoring at insane levels if similar technology hadn’t balanced the scales for defenders (bulletproof shin pads, mandatory visors, lightweight sticks) and goaltenders (literally every single piece of equipment on their body).

The introduction of plastics and composite materials fundamentally changed the way the sport was played from 1980 to 2000. It wasn’t just sticks.

So, again, composite sticks are equalizing....what, exactly? Certainly not the gap between elite goal scorers and everyone else.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Lightweight sticks also changed and improved the way defense was played, it's not as simple as whippier sticks=more goals

That’s exactly what I meant, and why I put it on the list.

So, again, composite sticks are equalizing....what, exactly? Certainly not the gap between elite goal scorers and everyone else.

They’ve reduced the amount of “input” needed for a player to shoot the puck at X mph, and in my estimation have made it considerably easier to lift the puck.

 

[Lshap]

Or more likely, there would be diminishing returns and his shot wouldn't stand out as much.

It's funny how the HOH posters view the "true game of hockey" as the one played in the 80s and earlier.

I have no idea what 'true game of hockey' you're talking about. I'm just using straightforward measures. Yesterday's equipment compromises performance, so by comparison today's equipment enhances it.

 

[Deadpool8812]

Coyotes players are lucky they get their equipment themselves because if the team supplied it, this is likely the stuff they would have to wear

 

[rt]

Not authentic until he can prove he crushed a case of Molson and two packs of Lucky Strikes the night before and had a porterhouse steak for breakfast.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Not authentic until he can prove he crushed a case of Molson and two packs of Lucky Strikes the night before and had a porterhouse steak for breakfast.

one time in college i bought a pack of unfiltered lucky strikes. man, dudes in the 1950s were way tougher.

 

[Sadekuuro]

I was thinking this. Ben Bishop in Billy Smith's gear would be outrageous.

Well of course... he's 9 inches taller than Battlin' Billy.

 

[PatrikBerglund]

In the 80s, Ovi would score 250 goals a season, even he played with almost no equipment, a wooden stick and figure skates.

I know you are being sarcastic, but he would be closer to 250 goals than 50.

 

[Evergreen]

That old Cooper helmet is pretty much exactly the same as the Bauer 4500 that so many players still use.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I know you are being sarcastic, but he would be closer to 250 goals than 50.

What specifically would make him that much better a goal scorer than Mario Lemieux?

 

[Zorf]

I hope that he used a Sherwood with the Coffey curve. If not, he missed out on the single greatest stick ever created.

It's been said that God himself reached down and created the curve for that stick.

 

[Saltcreek]

One Race, Every Medalist Ever

Must be the shoes

Actually, it is. Humans have not evolved in the past 100 years, evolution does not occur that quickly. What has changed is how technology and research has been applied to the athletes. Shoes, blocks, track,nutrition, etc all play a huge part in the quicker times.

100m sprint: How does Usain Bolt compare to Olympians across the decades?

 

[sparxx87]

That old Cooper helmet is pretty much exactly the same as the Bauer 4500 that so many players still use.

I think they gave him the oldest csa approved helmet they could find for insurance purposes. The ones from the 80’s were garbage, ToysRus quality... if they even wore one.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Talent is talent. Whatever equipment or era they're in, if they can play, they'll play. If they can score, they'll score.

It's probably like putting a child from today in front of a computer from 1985 though, and they're thinking, WTH am I supposed to do with this?

 

[Canadiens1958]

That’s exactly what I meant, and why I put it on the list.



They’ve reduced the amount of “input” needed for a player to shoot the puck at X mph, and in my estimation have made it considerably easier to lift the puck.

Modern sticks allow for a greater margin of error. Conversely they snap at inopportune times nullifying scoring chances.

 

[Pancakes]

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.

It's not just the gear. Modern players train way harder. Imagine if Mario Lemieux or Gretzky trained like Crosby does? Mario smoked for a lot of his career. So did Guy Lafleur and many others.

 

[57special]

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...

Or Bobby Hull, shooting 100 MPH and skating like the wind in the 60's.
I'm stunned that OEL couldn't do better with 80's equipment. Should've put him in 60's gear. Straight sticks, leather tube skates...I seem to recall that the Super Tacks with the nylon came out in the 70's.
My brother played with the helmets( I know, a sissy) with the front and back piece attached by straps across the top of the head.

Having strong ankles used to be necessary for hockey players. Also, blocking shots off the ankles often resulted in serious breaks. I had ankle guards, but forwards hated them as they were clunky. Blocking shots in general was something that was for the brave(or stupid) only.

I still like wooden sticks for shots from the point. You can hit it really hard and it doesn't take off on you....stays low, and gets through.

 

[57special]

It's not just the gear. Modern players train way harder. Imagine if Mario Lemieux or Gretzky trained like Crosby does? Mario smoked for a lot of his career. So did Guy Lafleur and many others.

Yeah. Rumour is that the Flower cut down on the smokes in between periods later on in his career, though.

Part of the reason why is the money. Most players in the 40's -70's had off season jobs, or if they didn't certainly didn't have the money to afford personal diet and training coaches. A guy like Lemieux was dominating w/o advanced training methods...why would he do anything else?

There were guys who trained in the off season like Hull, Howe, Horton, albeit in primitive ways.

 

[Pancakes]

Or Bobby Hull, shooting 100 MPH and skating like the wind in the 60's.
I'm stunned that OEL couldn't do better with 80's equipment. Should've put him in 60's gear. Straight sticks, leather tube skates...I seem to recall that the Super Tacks with the nylon came out in the 70's.
My brother played with the helmets( I know, a sissy) with the front and back piece attached by straps across the top of the head.

Having strong ankles used to be necessary for hockey players. Also, blocking shots off the ankles often resulted in serious breaks. I had ankle guards, but forwards hated them as they were clunky. Blocking shots in general was something that was for the brave(or stupid) only.

I still like wooden sticks for shots from the point. You can hit it really hard and it doesn't take off on you....stays low, and gets through.

It's a shame how prevalent shot blocking is now. The defensive scheme now is 6 goalies.

 

[psycat]

No phrase for "back swing" in Swedish?!

Fact is most younger Swedes replace so many swedish words with english ones on a daily basis that I fear for the survival of swedish language long term. Then again americanziation in general already infested pretty much the entire western world like a disease. A lot of people I know sometimes cant remember swedish words for stuff and instead prefer english terms.

I rarely hear a complete sentence these days that doesn't include atleast one straight up "borrowed"(And that's despite the fact that there are several suitable swedish ones to use) word and hearing young(er) people talk is sometimes shocking. Of course this is all natural since people read more english than swedish, hang out on the interwebs and all our TV-channels only shows programs in english pretty much.

 

[ElGuapo]

Fact is most younger Swedes replace so many swedish words with english ones on a daily basis that I fear for the survival of swedish language long term. Then again americanziation in general already infested pretty much the entire western world like a disease. A lot of people I know sometimes cant remember swedish words for stuff and instead prefer english terms.

I rarely hear a complete sentence these days that doesn't include atleast one straight up "borrowed"(And that's despite the fact that there are several suitable swedish ones to use) word and hearing young(er) people talk is sometimes shocking. Of course this is all natural since people read more english than swedish, hang out on the interwebs and all our TV-channels only show programs in english pretty much.

Good, very good. Perhaps our plans for world domination might still be successful.

 

[Liferleafer]

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

Lol...would love to see modern goalies wearing the old Cooper brown water logged pillows.