80’s-90’s hockey

[Sundancefisher]

watching old oilers hockey brings back fond memories

[1899b]

Originally Posted by EZM

Not only equipment advances like sticks, skates, goalie pad size etc.... but also the ice technology is way better.

Used to be you would get 20,000 people into a stadium and you were skating on slush by the end of the second period. Going into the corners meant getting wet.

Also nutrition, fitness and, of course, performance enhancing drugs make a huge difference in a players ability.

So many changes ....... two different games.

Yup two different games for sure. Those that like hockey now over the mans sport back then probably shut the fridge door with their hip....

[mooseknuckle]

Originally Posted by EZM

Not only equipment advances like sticks, skates, goalie pad size etc.... but also the ice technology is way better.

Used to be you would get 20,000 people into a stadium and you were skating on slush by the end of the second period. Going into the corners meant getting wet.

Also nutrition, fitness and, of course, performance enhancing drugs make a huge difference in a players ability.

So many changes ....... two different games.

Agreed, some guys would have a smoke in between periods, then again 3-4 minute shifts were not un common.

I gotta say I loved the game of the 80's and ya know.... still love it.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by 1899b

Yup two different games for sure. Those that like hockey now over the mans sport back then probably shut the fridge door with their hip....

When I close my fridge with my hip, it stays closed.

[graybeard]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

When I close my fridge with my hip, it stays closed.

X 2, nothing like a good hip check; but what I hate is when all the magnets and grand-kids art hits the floor.....hahahaha

[1899b]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

When I close my fridge with my hip, it stays closed.

Touché!!! lol.....

[pinelakeperch]

Originally Posted by 1899b

Yup two different games for sure. Those that like hockey now over the mans sport back then probably shut the fridge door with their hip....

Something tells me that you never played the game at a notable level

[1899b]

Originally Posted by pinelakeperch

Something tells me that you never played the game at a notable level

Only house league until 17. Then numerous men’s leagues .Still allowed an opinion no?

[boah]

I’m thinking the oilers from back then would do just fine these days. Gretzky, Messier, Coffey, Kurri, Anderson etc.

[Bigwoodsman]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

watching old oilers hockey brings back fond memories

YUP, and the other night when they play Game 7 Oilers Flames 1986. I was a ****ed off still as I was then!

BW

[Sledhead71]

Pretty tough to compare any professional sport from the good old days to current. There's a reason it was called a puck fight, now it's like going to the ballet.....

[1899b]

Originally Posted by Sledhead71

Pretty tough to compare any professional sport from the good old days to current. There's a reason it was called a puck fight, now it's like going to the ballet.....

Yup totally hear you. Other games like football or baseball stayed the same pretty much with the exception of guys being more athletic nowadays. But with the NHL they took hitting out of the league. It’s a very snowflake league now.

[Wild Bounty]

when the oilers came in the league they changed the game to what we see today

[1899b]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

When I close my fridge with my hip, it stays closed.

Give this a few minutes. This was the other night at Zanies Nashville. A round table discussion by three past enforcers Jim Mackenzie, Stu Grimson and Kelly Chase.
Discussing their careers, the role of the enforcer in those days and the fights they had with each other.

https://youtu.be/da2L3UezVxU

[muirsy]

I still love watching replays of games from the 80's & 90's - we even have most taped on VHS! Some of my favourite players of all time are guys like Cam Neely, Doug Gilmour, Scott Stevens, & Gary Roberts.

But if you think someone like Ovechkin wouldn't score 100 goals per year in the 80's you're delusional.

Players now aren't softer, it's just a different league with different rules. Player safety is now at the forefront whether you like it or not. The data are pretty clear on head trauma and CTE. It's a real thing & has serious long term consequences. Like a lot of things, we just know better now.

Physically, guys now are in far superior condition than any other era. Bigger, stronger, faster - it's not even comparable. Sure there are some outliers but they're the exception not the rule.

It's natural to think the era you grew watching was 'the best' - I have that bias too.

As far as entertainment value, I much prefer the 80's and 90's because the game had aspects in it that I really enjoyed.

But whenever I watch old games, objectively I can't deny that it's a much slower, generally sloppier game with average goaltending. It just is.