plus the equipment
- VanHockeyGuy

Very true. It took a decent set of balls to stop pucks back then.

That 5-hole looks a bit open.
- dbot

...and he's a midget. Lefty....

He was around 5'7". Everything was open.
- Load Management

Very true. It took a decent set of balls to stop pucks back then.
- Load Management

I saw Ken Dryden 1970 in Vancouver, he filled the net.

Very true. It took a decent set of balls to stop pucks back then.
- Load Management

- dbot

I guess Sawchuk didnt have a set of decent sized balls to stop the puck with so he used his face.

I guess Sawchuk didnt have a set of decent sized balls to stop the puck with so he used his face.

- boonerbuck

Sounds like a d!ckhead

Sounds like a d!ckhead
- dbot

Speaking of softwood...

Just the thought ....ends the thread.

Skinny jeans and stupid toques...🤑
- onesmallleap

Add in Matthews ugly turtlenecks

Just the thought ....ends the thread.

Skinny jeans and stupid toques...🤑
- onesmallleap

Fanboys can’t handle the truth

Fanboys can’t handle the truth
- CanuckDon

Correct, the last example being Podkolzin.

He was around 5'7". Everything was open.
- Load Management

I saw Ken Dryden 1970 in Vancouver, he filled the net.
- VanHockeyGuy

They Habs had Vachon, Tony Esposito and Gump Worsley before Dryden took over. Talk about great Goalie scouting. 4 Hall of Famers.

They Habs had Vachon, Tony Esposito and Gump Worsley before Dryden took over. Talk about great Goalie scouting. 4 Hall of Famers.
- Load Management

Jacques Plante before Worsley.....

Jacques Plante before Worsley.....
- golfingsince

Yes, but Worsley, Esposito, Vachon and Dryden were all in the organization together at one point. That's a serious logjam of greatness.

Yes, but Worsley, Esposito, Vachon and Dryden were all in the organization together at one point. That's a serious logjam of greatness.
- Load Management

Not sure Dryden was in organization with Esposito, as he was originally drafted by the Bruins, went to college then joined the Canadiens in 1970, the year after Esposito had been traded to Chicago.

- VanHockeyGuy

Thank you.

- VanHockeyGuy

Hits and fights per game have been on the rise post-covid, the average size of NHLers is trending back up as well

Hits and fights per game have been on the rise post-covid, the average size of NHLers is trending back up as well
- NorthNuck

- NewYorkNuck

Yep. The pendulum will continue to swing back and forth every few years. Regardless of what gripes people may have with the state of the game, the product is arguably the best it has ever been.

Not sure Dryden was in organization with Esposito, as he was originally drafted by the Bruins, went to college then joined the Canadiens in 1970, the year after Esposito had been traded to Chicago.
- Reubenkincade

See this is exactly why Lefty is right about your lack of Hockey knowledge.

Dryden was drafted in 1964 and traded shortly thereafter to the Habs. So he most definitely was a part of the Habs organization while Esposito was there. He was their property.

Hits and fights per game have been on the rise post-covid, the average size of NHLers is trending back up as well
- NorthNuck

I did a quick google and found this paper from 2022, which is kinda interesting.


Conclusions: NHL fighting rates have diminished during the past two decades, while fan attendance has increased. A significant negative correlation exists between fan attendance and fights per game, casting doubt on fighting's entertainment value. Meanwhile, a significant inverse correlation was noted between goals per game and fights per game. Taken together, these findings suggest fans may prefer higher scoring and less violent competitions. We conclude by suggesting that prohibiting fights in the NHL could improve player safety without negatively impacting fan attendance.

I did a quick google and found this paper from 2022, which is kinda interesting.


Conclusions: NHL fighting rates have diminished during the past two decades, while fan attendance has increased. A significant negative correlation exists between fan attendance and fights per game, casting doubt on fighting's entertainment value. Meanwhile, a significant inverse correlation was noted between goals per game and fights per game. Taken together, these findings suggest fans may prefer higher scoring and less violent competitions. We conclude by suggesting that prohibiting fights in the NHL could improve player safety without negatively impacting fan attendance.
- dbot

I guess parents sometimes don't want to take their kids to games where fighting is happening.

Anecdotally, I have talked to several hockey fans I know of various ages who have said they'd like it if fighting was banned. Personally I like having fighting in the game but it's interesting how many are opposed to it.

They Habs had Vachon, Tony Esposito and Gump Worsley before Dryden took over. Talk about great Goalie scouting. 4 Hall of Famers.
- Load Management

Tony O played as WHL Canuck before being in the NHL.

I discount many Habs & Leafs cups due to territorial player protection rights before the advent of the entry draft. Tell the dumbass Leafs fans that when they pipe off with their ignorance lol. Educate the idiots 😂