3 ms·

The removal of hookings and slashings from the game still makes it a much more open affair than it was back when goalies did acrobatic saves in smaller pads. T

The removal of hookings and slashings from the game still makes it a much more open affair than it was back when goalies did acrobatic saves in smaller pads. The speed and skill allowed now is completely different. The composite sticks means players can release shots without warning, that would take a full second to prepare back when everyone had a moustache. Goalies had a chancee because the guy with the moustache and wooden stick was getting slashed or cross checked while taking his shot. It was way less enjoyable than the game is now. The SV% and GAA is also mostly unchanged because of this. If the hookings were removed, players had the speed and composite sticks of late 2000's but goales looked and played like in 1980 - it wouldn't really be watchable. Also, I love that a hockey article is at the front page of HN.

soperj 6y ago
GAA & SV% is actually much higher than in the 80s. Grant Fuhr had only 2 seasons with an above .900 sv% and those were in the last half of the 90s. Mostly had a GAA of over 3.5. You wouldn't be an NHL goalie with those numbers these days.
- lunatuna 6y ago
  IMHO, Grant Fuhr was underrated for his skills. He was left to do most of the defending himself while the rest of his team was out hunting goals. Even lots of beer and old video of his games would likely not settle this, but I put this out there. The goal differential was strongly in the Oilers favour.[0] So leaving Fuhr to his business looked to work. Comparing to the Habs[1], the Oilers had a full goal + on any other team. Plus the Oilers were averaging 5 goals a night with some 8-0 and 7-1 out there. Likely still could have won some of those games without a goalie. alkonaut - This is really cool. I was a bit struck seeing this on HN and from an Atlantic article and Dryden writing the article. [0]: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/EDM/1985.html https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/EDM/1985.html [1]: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1985.html https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1985.html
  - soperj 6y ago
    Fuhr was one of the greatest goalies of all time. I was saying it not as a slight to Fuhr, I'm saying that it's representative of the actual stats of the time. Look at Ron Hextall, 3 seasons with a better than .900 sv%, 2 of which were in the late 90s at the end of his career. Look at Don Beaupre, 17 seasons in the league, and not one over a .900 sv%. You don't get 17 seasons in the league, most as a starter, if you're not above avg.

soperj 6y ago

GAA & SV% is actually much higher than in the 80s. Grant Fuhr had only 2 seasons with an above .900 sv% and those were in the last half of the 90s. Mostly had a GAA of over 3.5. You wouldn't be an NHL goalie with those numbers these days.

lunatuna 6y ago
IMHO, Grant Fuhr was underrated for his skills. He was left to do most of the defending himself while the rest of his team was out hunting goals. Even lots of beer and old video of his games would likely not settle this, but I put this out there. The goal differential was strongly in the Oilers favour.[0] So leaving Fuhr to his business looked to work. Comparing to the Habs[1], the Oilers had a full goal + on any other team. Plus the Oilers were averaging 5 goals a night with some 8-0 and 7-1 out there. Likely still could have won some of those games without a goalie. alkonaut - This is really cool. I was a bit struck seeing this on HN and from an Atlantic article and Dryden writing the article. [0]: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/EDM/1985.html https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/EDM/1985.html [1]: https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1985.html https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTL/1985.html
- soperj 6y ago
  Fuhr was one of the greatest goalies of all time. I was saying it not as a slight to Fuhr, I'm saying that it's representative of the actual stats of the time. Look at Ron Hextall, 3 seasons with a better than .900 sv%, 2 of which were in the late 90s at the end of his career. Look at Don Beaupre, 17 seasons in the league, and not one over a .900 sv%. You don't get 17 seasons in the league, most as a starter, if you're not above avg.