This Day in Hockey History

[puckhead]

For me, part of it is the watered down rosters from expansion.
When there were 21 teams, you KNEW everyone.

The divisional games were vital, and there were more of them. That divisional rivalry built up and was palpable.

Now, I need to actually think for a moment before I can even name all of the Pacific teams. And I certainly couldn't name more than a few players on Utah or Seattle. Even Calgary, to be honest. Part of that is that my team is completely irrelevant, but not all of it.

 

[dash]

I can only speak for myself, but there are only so many hours available and as you get older, you need to prioritize those hours. Mostly though, I want to be entertained and NHL hockey doesn't light me near as much as it used to. I'd much rather watch junior hockey these days. Same goes for footy and yes while I am a fan of Southampton, I find Championship games much more entertaining that the Premier League. It's also why I remain a bigger CFL fan than NFL fan, I find the CFL game way more entertaining.

 

[dare2be]

I can point to a few palpable things for me. Shootouts, loser points, no ties, and 3on3 OT. To name a few.

 

[dash]

I can point to a few palpable things for me. Shootouts, loser points, no ties, and 3on3 OT. To name a few.

This is an excellent point and something I failed to mention in my earlier post. The NHL is the only major professional sports league in North America (and likely the world) where the rules/how games are played are radically changed between the regular season and playoffs. A team can feast off of 3-on-3 OT/shootouts as well as picking up loser points to make the playoffs and all of that disappears once the playoffs stars.

To me,. it certainly impacts the legitimacy of the league.

 

[puckhead]

LA has anywhere from 6 to 10 fewer regulation wins than each of the six teams chasing them for the last playoff spot.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I can point to a few palpable things for me. Shootouts, loser points, no ties, and 3on3 OT. To name a few.

It’s been so long since I watched, but didn’t they eliminate the red line too? All I know is I really don’t give a shit about hockey anymore. I don’t care if we lose the United States forever.

That’s why I’m going back to watching the 1976 Canada cup or the 1987 Canada cup or when I’m really feeling festive, the 1972 super series which I own on DVD. None of anything today means anything to me as much as those things did. I honestly don’t care about the Olympic hockey win in Vancouver. I didn’t watch it, didn’t mean anything to me.

I don’t see passion anymore. Back when the fate of the free world was hanging in the balance and those commie cock suckers were trying to come over here and take over hockey, it mattered.

Now you have teammates playing against teammates internationally. And in a violent game like hockey, you can’t be loving a guy on the other team. Nobody wants to go out and her injure. There’s team star player just cause he happens to be playing for another country today. Tell that to Bobby Clarke as he was slashing Kharlamovs ankle.

 

[puckhead]

It’s been so long since I watched, but didn’t they eliminate the red line too?

2 line pass rule has been gone for 20 years.
red line is still there for icing.

 

[dash]

LA has anywhere from 6 to 10 fewer regulation wins than each of the six teams chasing them for the last playoff spot.

How far down the standings would LA be if it were 3 points for a regulation win and 1 point for a tie (you know, like footy does essentially worldwide?)

 

[Hank Kingsley]

2 line pass rule has been gone for 20 years.
red line is still there for icing.

Got it

I still prefer watching the Road Runner take the pass from big Robinson perfectly before the 2nd line and go in and score.

 

[dare2be]

I'm ok with removing the 2 line pass rule. I think it added more importance and strategy for the stay-at-home defensemen, offensive defensemen and 2-way players.

 

[All-Star Benchwarmer]

View attachment 425916

Where did you find the poster of The Pet Shop Boys on ice???

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Speaking about things that I miss about the good old days.

 

[mattola]

man those guys were built different .

 

[puckhead]

Farm strength

 

[dash]

 

[Comeds]

When I first got the option to get Center Ice in the late 90s I watched game after game. Not just the teams I liked, but I watched most all the games I could. That was just unsustainable.

Not a fan of the SO, 3 on 3 OT, or the loser point but they don't stop me from watching. In fact some of the changes made 20 years ago really did help the game. I think a lot of people forget how bad the game had gotten in the late 90s early 2000s. 2-1 games with a total of 32 shots and everyone holding each other. So I do think the product is better than it was then - not saying it is as good as it was mid 90s and before.

Basically for me, priorities just changed. While I still feel I care just as much as I used to during the actual games themselves, in between the games I don't care as much as I used to.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

man those guys were built different .

View attachment 426456

That picture of Bobby Hull pitching hay was cut out of the Vancouver Sun and I pasted it inside the front cover of Hockey is My Game.

 

[dash]

Having to listen to some of these play-by-play guys makes me miss Bob Cole even more. Even Chris Cuthbert's best days have passed.

 

[dash]

 

[mattola]

i watched this game