The Great One(s)

[millerdog]

the last thing I watch at night is ESPN and of course this forum.:)
Mario Lemieux? got his 1700 point. I was like "wow." Then ESPN put up the graphics. No. 2 scorer: Gordie Howe...of course he had like 1800+ points. No. 1? Yeah, the only person in sports they call "The Great One." Wayne Gretzy. Dudes! 2856? points?
Are you kidding me?:eek:
Barry Bonds shattered Maris' record. Aaron put Babe Ruth in the back seat. Will someone catch Dan Marino? yes.
Will anyone catch "The Great One?"

[ProAc_Fan]

In todays trap happy NHL no one will get within 1000 points of Wayne's lofty totals. In fact I'd be surprised to see any rookie coming into the league now even amass 1500 points over a career. Just look at the goal scoring totals that are now winning the scoring title. Wayne scored 50 goals in 39 games when nowadays the top goal scorer is barely getting 50 in 84 games.

Mike

[jguzman21]

I totally agree with what you said Pro-Ac. What would you like to see changed in the NHL rule-wise to open up the game and let the stars shine? Me, personally, I would like to see the two-line pass taken out. It would definitely help to get rid of the trap!! As a fan I cannot stand to watch most of the games played between the blue lines. Off the soapbax for now...

john

[ProAc_Fan]

I'd like to see a few changes to open up the game.

1) Remove the red line thereby eliminating the neutral zone trap

2) Mandate smaller equipment for the goalies. No more peach baskets for gloves and pads that are 40" long and 24" wide.

3) The goalie can have a mask or a cup but NOT both.

4) Take out the instigator rule and let the teams hand out their own discipline. When guys like Dave Semenko were able to do their jobs you didn't see hitting from behind or sticks carried head high because those players knew what would happen if they did that. Fear is a great motivator.

Now I'm off my soapbox as well :)

Mike

[THOR]

"The goalie can have a mask or a cup but NOT both."

Was this meant is seriousness??? :eek:

I would like to see offsides removed, I always disable it in NHL 2003 and it really opens up the scoring ;)

[geespot]

I thought the NHL eliminated the oversize gloves and pads this year?

Yes, remove the red line or the 2-line pass.

Eliminate the penalty where one player gets a hook, trip, etc but the person who got hooked, tripped gets a dive. This doesn't do anything.


g

[THOR]

You know what also all games that are tied at regulation should have a shootout to determine winner.


Each teams 5 best players take turns going one on one with the goalie to determine who wins. How awesome would that be!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[ProAc_Fan]

Thor I was joking about the mask or the cup but the other suggestions were serious. I think shootouts are exciting but not really a true measure of a teams play. I'd like them to perhaps play 4 on 4 all the time. Open up the ice and eliminate some of the poor skaters who occupy a forward spot now. The game has much more flow to it in the 5 minute overtime period. Of course the players union doesn't want to lose that extra skater per line but if the owners can stick together maybe they can bring the union in line this time. Back in the very old days it used to be 6 skaters per side with one player being a "rover". So the idea of removing a skater from each side is not new. It was done before for exactly the same reason.

Mike

[gonefishin]

the Great One is properly named...that's for sure. If you ever doubt it...look at his records and accomplishments.


As for the rules.

SMALLER PADS,BLOCKERS and GLOVES for the goalies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All they gotta do is flop on the ground and something they have attached to them is bound to hit the puck. Bring th goalie back into this game and give him smaller gear!

Keep off-sides but get rid of the two line pass rule. Keep the redline for iceing and faceoffs...but get rid of the two line pass rule.

Eliminate the penalty where one player gets a hook, trip, etc but the person who got hooked, tripped gets a dive. This doesn't do anything.

I would agree to give either a dive penalty out...or a hook, hold...etc. But if the guy gets credited with a dive...then the hook didn't warrant his fall. If another guy get called for a hook, that may take down another player...then call it. Either one or the other. There are certainly some great actors in the NHL that should be called for taking a dive (either that or smacked in the head)

and most of all...I'd like to see the Hawks start to put together a decent team again. No, I'm not talking about a cup contending team...or even making the playoffs...for right now I'd just like to see something...anything that could be looked at as progress!

[THOR]

I am not really a hockey fan, it used to be cool when it was rougher and there was more fighting (and scoring) but now it is almost like watching soccer, thrilling 1 - 1 ties and such, even the highlights on ESPN in the morning aren't that thrilling, it would be nice if something was done to make it more exciting again.

I much prefer to watch the UMAINE hockey team play, college games seem to have more scoring and though they don't fight and they aren't as rough as in the pros (more finnese?) when someone does get popped it's exciting!