The Decrease in Goal Production in the NHL
When I look back to 1992-1993 I remember A few things, Teemu Selanne Scoring 76 goals in the NHL as a rookie, tying Alexander Mogilny. I cant forget 30 players having over 100 points, 15 with over 50 goals in a season. As I watch the fastest game on earth now, I see the most talented players in the world, struggling to score 30, maybe even 40. The same players who scored 70+ goals are having 30 goal season's. Have the players gotten worse or has hockey gone downhill? I am going to discuss the causes of how the NHL is rapidly decreasing in goal production, team and Individual. The first reason Goal totals for individual players has fallen, is because of the rough play the NHL is now known for. Next is because the goalies are getting bigger and better. Last is because of the new commissioner Gary Bettman.
In hockey, I like to call the 80's the roaring 80's. Everybody had goals, Gretzky was throwing in 80-90 goals a season, it was not unusual for a team to have several players with more then 50 goals, or 100 points. Defense men could score 30 40 goals and over 100 points per season . Everybody was rich in goals and points, those were the good times. As the 90's progressed goals were still easy, Brett Hull had a 87 goal year in 91, Mogilny and Selanne both had 76 goals each in 93, and after the lockout season in 94 Jagr and Lemieux had over 60 goals, and over 150 points. Things were great. 1996-97 only one player reached 100 points, that's unheard of, people thought well, maybe it's a down season there's one every 20 years, wrong! the next season not one player reached 100 points. Through 1997,98,99,00 and now this year it has been a struggle for these unbelievably talented players, they cant even reach 50 goals, or 100 points, what's going on? Here's what's going on, Defense-men are getting away with murder. A superstar like Pavel Bure, gets gooned the whole game, he gets speared nonstop, right in the ribs, slashes on the hands and wrists and tripped hooked all game. A bigger player like Jagr who is 6'4 can make his way better then Bure because he can take most of the beating handed out by the unskilled defencemen.
To understand this phenomenon we must go back to March 13, 1955. On this date, the Montreal Canadians were playing a game in Boston against the Bruins. One of the opposing players, Hal Laycoe, high-sticked Maurice Richard, injuring him to the point of requiring eight stitches on his scalp. Richard retaliated by smashing his own stick over Laycoe's head and shoulders and slashed him with another player's stick until it splintered. Becoming annoyed with the official's interference in the fight, Richard then turned and punched him. Since hitting an official was the least honorable thing to do, Richard was expelled from the game (2000).
... milestone game in 1980, hockey in the United States has grown significantly at the professional and amateur levels. (USA Hockey, N.d.)
Wayne Gretzky’s Impact on Hockey Wayne Gretzky played a huge role in hockey history. He was a role model for many people who watched the NHL and played hockey across America as well as in Canada. His early years and determination led him to where he is today. All of his hard work throughout his life paid off in his great success over his career. Gretzky was the greatest hockey player ever to play in the NHL, his integrity and persistence set the bar for many players today and also influenced the way the game was played.
...es another player have to meet death before the NHL will change their minds on neck guards? Were Clint Malarchuk and Richard Zednik injuries not sever enough? How many more players have to meet this fate before something is done? I think that Florida Panthers head coach Jacques Martin said it best in a press conference held at Richard Zednik’s release from the hospital
The most memorable moment in hockey history came thirty-four years ago with the 1980 Miracle on Ice. The Americans defeating the dominant Soviet team at the Olympics was not only an important triumph for USA Hockey, but for the entire nation. Contrary to popular belief, the underdog win was not only the result of a miracle; it was also the result of a hard-working team led by Coach Herb Brooks. With increasingly negative views on the position of the United States in the Cold War, the Miracle on Ice and the gold medal win lifted the spirits of the nation and brought hockey into the American spotlight.
Parents in the U.S. are also placing too much pressure on their kids to be the best. Parents in America are becoming much too involved in youth sports and are starting to get out of control, sometimes even resorting to violence and vulgarity. Parents in the U.S. today are becoming too involved in youth sports and are getting out of control. In the July 24, 2000 issue of Sports Illustrated, there is an article by William Nack and Lester Munson about a father in Massachusetts who killed another father over a dispute about youth hockey. On July 5, 2000 Thomas Junta, a father of two, got into what seemed to be a minor shoving match with Michael Costin, a father of four, over a play in a hockey practice.
Should fighting stay in hockey? Should we allow players hit other player in the face with a hockey sticks or take other cheap shots and not do anything about it? If your star player got taken off the ice because of a stick to the face, you would want to do something about it wouldn’t you? Fighting should stay in hockey. For the fan appeal, players getting revenge, having
Millions of people are registered throughout North America for participation in Canada’s national sport and pastime, ice hockey. Most young hockey players have the dream of making it to the National Hockey League (NHL). Because of this incentive to keep striving towards their ultimate goal in their hockey career, they idolize the players in the NHL. Therefore, youth players may obtain certain habits from the elite, whether those habits are good or bad. Some cases are of bad influences, such as young players obtaining the dirty playing habits of the professionals. The primary action that influences the youthful population is body checking. With the thought of losing a game, it is no wonder why players have the urge to play rough and potentially hurt the opposing team in order to be victorious. For that reason, hockey is a strong collision sport that requires great skill and motivation. Although body checking is believed to be a useful tool in the winning of hockey games, it can be the cause that leads to injury among players. Because of the rougher play, lasting brain injuries are becoming a worry and too many players are exposed to the lasting effects of the head injury. According to Michael Cusimano July 22, 2003 the article entitled “Body Checking and Concussions” states, “With the rising incidence of traumatic brain injury in hockey, too many players are exposed to the lasting effects of such injuries, some of which are not fully realized until the brain completes its maturation.” For this reason, new equipment and regulations need to be devised for use in the near future.
Hockey would not be hockey without the players. The NHL is famous for its five on five play. Roller hockey, on the other hand, is four on four. Strategically in ice hockey two players stay primarily on defense while the other three are sent forward for offense. Roller hockey, however, with only two forwards for offense, one of the two defense-men must move up to join the attack in order for teams to have an effective attack. While causing a minor headache to defensive players, having four players on the floor allows more open ice to skate and make plays in. This too has a downfall though, four players doing the work of five can be tiresome to players leading to the need for shorter periods.
In sports, the best athletes are the individuals that give each team a chance to win every game. The bad news for the best athletes is that sometimes their health gets put second to their abilities. Roughly 1.8 to 3.6 million sports related concussions happen each year (Concussion Statistics). Stronger and faster athletes as well as more impact of the hits or falls have doubled the number of concussions in a decade (Concussion Statistics). Concussions can happen to every athlete, but when it happens to the star athletes, it is different. Schools have to follow direct concussion safety laws, but professional sports have more leniencies (Get). Wins are more important in the professional leagues compared to the high school and amateur levels. Wins lead to the coveted playoffs. The playoffs can lead to an even more coveted championship. During the playoffs, the games are shown on national television, seen by millions of fans. In the games, players can shine in the national spotlight. If an athlete performs well that individual can be paid more money in the future. If the coaches win their respective divisions, conferences, make the playoffs, make the championship game, or win the championship, it all leads to a higher pay for the coach. It also leads to more money for the team and city as well. Winning means so much in the professional leagues. But is it really win at all costs? As much as I personally love sports with a passion, I would prefer each player get fully recovered and then come back, rather than rush back still not at one hundred percent. I want my favorite players to play for a long time not for short stints between each injury. The player’s health is way more important to me then the championship. Rushing players back in...
As population continually increases in the Southern states, the NHL is moving teams into large Southern cities. In an effort to increase profits and popularity, the NHL has increased the number of teams in the league and moved into Southern cities that have never had hockey teams before. The problem is that hockey is not as popular in the South as it is in the North. This expansion in the South has lead to huge monetary losses to Southern teams and very low attendance numbers. The NHL should not have expanded the league into Southern cities and should keep NHL teams farther North.
Sink M. (2002, January 31). HOCKEY; Youth Game Postponed After Fight by Parents. Retrieved November 1, 2010, from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/01/sports/hockey-youth-game-postponed-after-fight-by-parents.html
uniform consists of a series of pads and a helmet to protect you from the lighting fast
“The Blackhawks have the puck here in OT against the Blues, and we are all tied up at two. The Blackhawks are in control of the puck. Kane takes the puck. Kane’s skating down the ice. Kane passes the puck. Tarasenko slides in front of it! Tarasenko steals the puck. He’s skating back down the ice. He gets around Kane! It’s Tarasenko versus the goalie! Tarasenko sets up! Slapshot! The Blues win the game!” This is just one of the many commentaries that can be heard on any given night of a hockey game. Hockey has been around for decades, and like many sports, it is loved by many as their favorite sport of choice. One of the many key components if not the most important component to a hockey game is the hockey stick. Hockey sticks have been around
Other than the trademark short shorts of the 70’s and 80’s, the game of basketball has drastically changed over time. Even the high-flying, basketball pro, Michael Jordan acknowledged that today’s game is not what it used to be, paying homage to areas that surpassed, but also the areas that, he believed, worsened. Many embrace these new changes, however, there are still many who believe that the NBA is slowly withering away and losing its edge; which will you be?