Let's take those mid 80s Oilers team and plop them down in this league. They would ravage it. It would be ridiculous. No hooking, no holding, no two line pass... pffft!

What we have in this league are three or four good teams, three or four bad teams and 24 mediocre teams.
- mayorofangrytown

LOL NO CAP

Crosby is 4th in points per game in his career at 1.400 (behind Gretzky, Lemieux and Bossy respectively) which is 115 points per 82 games. 99 tallied over 2 points per game through his first 8 seasons. Gotta think Sid would be around there too.
- NickTheKid87

Sidney is also playing against 200 players that couldn't play in the league back then.

Let's take those mid 80s Oilers team and plop them down in this league. They would ravage it. It would be ridiculous. No hooking, no holding, no two line pass... pffft!

What we have in this league are three or four good teams, three or four bad teams and 24 mediocre teams.
- mayorofangrytown

You're not factoring in the adaptation made by coaches. Coaching staffs studied that Oilers team as well as the Bullies in order to stop them. It's all part of the advancement and evolution of the game. It's also a lot different with salary cap, which would make it really hard to build a dynamo like those Oilers' teams.

LOL NO CAP
- Philly1980

Thought we were talking talent comparison. Now you want to talk about GMs?

Thought we were talking talent comparison. Now you want to talk about GMs?
- mayorofangrytown

Now, now gentlemen no need to whip out the ruler and compare...

Sidney is also playing against 200 players that couldn't play in the league back then.
- mayorofangrytown

See I think you're off base. Players now are better than they were before thanks to conditioning, advances in medicine, knowledge of the past as well as the general increase in the amount of work that goes into doing anything at a high level.

A good metaphor would be college. In 1980, would could get a good job without a college degree but now that's near impossible. It's even getting harder with a bachelor's degree. Sooner or later, everyone that wants a good job will have to go to grad school and beyond.

You're not factoring in the adaptation made by coaches. Coaching staffs studied that Oilers team as well as the Bullies in order to stop them. It's all part of the advancement and evolution of the game. It's also a lot different with salary cap, which would make it really hard to build a dynamo like those Oilers' teams.
- NickTheKid87

The only thing that stopped the Oilers was age and salaries. It's no different than today. When they all started getting superstar salaries the Oilers had to move some of them. They may not have had a Cap back then in the CBA but teams could only afford so much.

The only thing that stopped the Oilers was age and salaries. It's no different than today. When they all started getting superstar salaries the Oilers had to move some of them. They may not have had a Cap back then in the CBA but teams could only afford so much.
- mayorofangrytown

I agree with you about the difficulties about building super teams with the cap restrictions of today, but the overall talent in the league from a individual player standpoint has increased.

See I think you're off base. Players now are better than they were before thanks to conditioning, advances in medicine, knowledge of the past as well as the general increase in the amount of work that goes into doing anything at a high level.

A good metaphor would be college. In 1980, would could get a good job without a college degree but now that's near impossible. It's even getting harder with a bachelor's degree. Sooner or later, everyone that wants a good job will have to go to grad school and beyond.
- NickTheKid87

That's a terrible metaphor. You're kidding right?

What you're trying to tell me is that Gretzky, Coffey, Messier, Fuhr, Anderson, Kurri couldn't score with todays players because they were fat and out of shape? That's crazy! Not to mention that the role players on that team were better than the top 6 on most current teams. Did you ever watch that team play?

I agree with you about the difficulties about building super teams with the cap restrictions of today, but the overall talent in the league from a individual player standpoint has increased.
- NickTheKid87

totally agree

See I think you're off base. Players now are better than they were before thanks to conditioning, advances in medicine, knowledge of the past as well as the general increase in the amount of work that goes into doing anything at a high level.

A good metaphor would be college. In 1980, would could get a good job without a college degree but now that's near impossible. It's even getting harder with a bachelor's degree. Sooner or later, everyone that wants a good job will have to go to grad school and beyond.
- NickTheKid87

Also, 25 years ago, every single team carried at least one goon and goalies were a lot smaller and less equipped. Back in 1987, Hextall was a huge goalie. Now? Might be slightly above average at 6'3". Back then most goalies were standup goalies, now every goalie has a coach dedicated to his game and is schooled in technique.

Even with the 200 players who wouldn't have been NHLers back in 1987, third liners today are more skilled than the 3rd liners of yesterday, or at the very least are better skaters.

Now, now gentlemen no need to whip out the ruler and compare...
- FlyersGrace

Okay, but after I go someone's gong to want to measure his arm instead.

That's a terrible metaphor. You're kidding right?

What you're trying to tell me is that Gretzky, Coffey, Messier, Fuhr, Anderson, Kurri couldn't score with todays players because they were fat and out of shape? That's crazy! Not to mention that the role players on that team were better than the top 6 on most current teams. Did you ever watch that team play?
- mayorofangrytown

Compare Fuhr's wet pads to Lundqvist's wet pads.

Reason #1 why scoring is down.

That's a terrible metaphor. You're kidding right?

What you're trying to tell me is that Gretzky, Coffey, Messier, Fuhr, Anderson, Kurri couldn't score with todays players because they were fat and out of shape? That's crazy! Not to mention that the role players on that team were better than the top 6 on most current teams. Did you ever watch that team play?
- mayorofangrytown

That's not what I'm saying. I'm talking about the players in the league in general as well. Of course the stars would be stars in the NHL today, they just wouldn't put up the crazy numbers.

I guess the idea is, you have to work harder to make it to the NHL today, therefore the average player today is better than the average player in the 80s. That's where the college metaphor comes in.

Also, 25 years ago, every single team carried at least one goon and goalies were a lot smaller and less equipped. Back in 1987, Hextall was a huge goalie. Now? Might be slightly above average at 6'3". Back then most goalies were standup goalies, now every goalie has a coach dedicated to his game and is schooled in technique.

Even with the 200 players who wouldn't have been NHLers back in 1987, third liners today are more skilled than the 3rd liners of yesterday, or at the very least are better skaters.
- Jsaquella

The goaltending was so horrendously bad.

Take a look at Lafleur's textbook goal: step over the blueline, wire it to the far corner.

There isn't a backup goalie in the league today that would let that it.

Maybe the Flyers should have taken a chance on Ellerby, he had an assist last night and looked pretty decent from what I saw of him. He also played 20 mins.

Also, 25 years ago, every single team carried at least one goon and goalies were a lot smaller and less equipped. Back in 1987, Hextall was a huge goalie. Now? Might be slightly above average at 6'3". Back then most goalies were standup goalies, now every goalie has a coach dedicated to his game and is schooled in technique.

Even with the 200 players who wouldn't have been NHLers back in 1987, third liners today are more skilled than the 3rd liners of yesterday, or at the very least are better skaters.
- Jsaquella

The Oilers third line was MacTavish, Napier and Tikkanen.

Really? Really?

That's not what I'm saying. I'm talking about the players in the league in general as well. Of course the stars would be stars in the NHL today, they just wouldn't put up the crazy numbers.

I guess the idea is, you have to work harder to make it to the NHL today, therefore the average player today is better than the average player in the 80s. That's where the college metaphor comes in.
- NickTheKid87

The talent pool is also larger.

USA is producing a much larger amount of players.

The Iron Curtain is gone.

More Scandanavians want to play in the NHL.

Also, 25 years ago, every single team carried at least one goon and goalies were a lot smaller and less equipped. Back in 1987, Hextall was a huge goalie. Now? Might be slightly above average at 6'3". Back then most goalies were standup goalies, now every goalie has a coach dedicated to his game and is schooled in technique.

Even with the 200 players who wouldn't have been NHLers back in 1987, third liners today are more skilled than the 3rd liners of yesterday, or at the very least are better skaters.
- Jsaquella

Exactly, which is all just the natural progression of things. In 2040, they'll be saying the same stuff about 2013 as we are saying now about the 80s.

The goaltending was so horrendously bad.

Take a look at Lafleur's textbook goal: step over the blueline, wire it to the far corner.

There isn't a backup goalie in the league today that would let that it.
- Atomic Wedgie

All I can say is LEIGHTON.

That's a terrible metaphor. You're kidding right?

What you're trying to tell me is that Gretzky, Coffey, Messier, Fuhr, Anderson, Kurri couldn't score with todays players because they were fat and out of shape? That's crazy! Not to mention that the role players on that team were better than the top 6 on most current teams. Did you ever watch that team play?
- mayorofangrytown

All of those players would be stars in the League today, just as they were back then. Point totals might be different. But they still would be top players.

The talent pool is also larger.

USA is producing a much larger amount of players.

The Iron Curtain is gone.

More Scandanavians want to play in the NHL.
- Atomic Wedgie

That's true as well.

The goaltending was so horrendously bad.

Take a look at Lafleur's textbook goal: step over the blueline, wire it to the far corner.

There isn't a backup goalie in the league today that would let that it.
- Atomic Wedgie

Goalie's today play a style that was formed by the mistakes of the past, which is applicable for almost anything. It's basically just learning from mistakes.

Compare Fuhr's wet pads to Lundqvist's wet pads.

Reason #1 why scoring is down.
- Atomic Wedgie

The one thing I can agree with is the change in equipment.

I'm going to assume if the Oilers are playing today they can get their hands on current equipment.

The Oilers third line was MacTavish, Napier and Tikkanen.

Really? Really?
- mayorofangrytown

At least one year, Tikkanen was on the 1st line.

I'm talking about all 21 teams, not just the dominant dynasty team that won 5 of 7 Stanley Cups from 1984-1991