Using Modern Equipment, In What Eras Could You Have Played In The NHL?

[Neutrinos]

Obviously this is a purely speculative exercise, and answers will vary depending on your skills and experience as a player, but if you could take modern equipment back in time with you, in which eras could you have played in the NHL? And how do you think you would do?

For example, if I could use modern skates, gloves, and a composite stick, I'm quite confident that I'd lead the early days of the NHL in scoring by a considerable amount. I don't think 10 - 20 points per game would be out of the question

As for the latest era I could play in, I think I could hang in there up until skates evolved to the point where they began resembling those that are used today. My best guess would be the 60's or early 70's, but again, this is just a guess based on my own assessment of things


NOTE: For the purposes of this exercise, you're in your prime and have been training like a modern day athlete, so you're at your peak physically

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[Bear of Bad News]

When I said that this was not a "History" topic, I was thinking more the "Fantasy" forum. But good luck to you.

Next time, when a mod closes a thread of yours, please ask before starting it again.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Not evcen sure where to begin, since of course I'm not in my prime and have never trained like a modern athlete...

But the early NHL days were vicious man, and they hardly wore any equipment. I think shinpads and gloves were about it. If you showed up in full equipment, including a helmet and visor, I think you'd be slashed into submission and have your manhood seriously questioned.

 

[tarheelhockey]

By the time the NHL came around, the players were already wearing tube skates. Those aren't very close to modern skates, but they're close enough that a massive advantage in athleticism will win out.

Kind of like an MLB player might crush records using an aluminum bat, but it won't make a beer-league superstar into an MLB-quality hitter. You still have to be able to play the game at an extraordinary level or the equipment is trivial.

 

[puckpilot]

Kind of like an MLB player might crush records using an aluminum bat, but it won't make a beer-league superstar into an MLB-quality hitter. You still have to be able to play the game at an extraordinary level or the equipment is trivial.

Yep. Give a skilled carpenter a hammer and a handsaw they can build you a beautiful house. Give me a all the modern tools in the world, and I'll build you a pile of sawdust and lost limbs.

People forget that the most important tool that an athlete has is between the ears. The innate ability to process and perform at a high level has nothing to do with equipment.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

OP is admittedly a house league level player and seems to think players back in the day were scrubs who could hardly skate.

Watch some historical footage of guys like Rocket Richard and Eddie Shore playing and you should be humbled a bit. Not to mention the toughness aspect back then, a house league player wouldn't stand a chance in any NHL era.

 

[Dueling Banjos]

Every beer league player who thinks he's fast and good should watch video footage of himself.