Bill Meltzer: Star Gazing: Going Big in Goal, Blending Tradition and New Ideas

Bill Meltzer: Star Gazing: Going Big in Goal, Blending Tradition and New Ideas
- bmeltzer

i remember seeing chris terreri after sean burke and being all like "what the?" "how the?"...

things were so different then.


frigging panger.

Amazing blog, best i have read in some time..

Great blog Bill. I look forward to the complete article on goalie evolution.

In regard to analytics, as players have access to better training methods which improve their athleticism and abilities, then any tools which teams utilize to put these athletes in the best position to succeed is beneficial to the game, to the players and to the teams. I like Jim Nill's perspective on using all available tools in the right context (traditionalism and analytics both have usable information) and I believe the Stars are going to benefit from this in future years.

I believe that the game has changed so much in the last 10-15 years that goalies and coaches have adapted to it. In todays game size does matter. As a goalie you are more likely to be facing large amounts of screened shots and net scrums than you are to face one on one shot challenges (unless you played for the oilers last year…). So net coverage is more of a priority. If you are 6'6" you'll cover more net, plane and simple.

It was mentioned in the article how "big guys" are really good athletes. I do agree, but it seems that most goalies these days aren't as good with their hands (sorry ladies). What used to be more of a problem with european goalies has crept its way into north america. Watch a game and take note of how many goalies are dropping pucks that are shot into gloves. You'll be really surprised. Some will say it is the fault of smaller gloves, but I believe it is due to the fact that blocking the shot is of more importance than catching it.

The bigger is better trend has happened before… Remember the 90"s? How many forwards and defencemen were drafted mostly because they were big? Don't get me wrong you had to have skill, but if you were sub 6'0 with the same or better skill set you may not get drafted. Look how that has changed.

If the game ever does open up to something similar to the 80's the return of true athletic style of goaltending will make a comeback… here is hoping!

It's not just the goalies. The players are much taller and larger that they were previously. Not only in hockey, but in all other sports and the general population as well.

So what you're saying is that the population of North America is getting bigger, primarily because of better nutrition and health care?

The real question is, should the goals be made bigger to compensate for the larger goaltenders?

It's not just the goalies. The players are much taller and larger that they were previously. Not only in hockey, but in all other sports and the general population as well.

So what you're saying is that the population of North America is getting bigger, primarily because of better nutrition and health care?

The real question is, should the goals be made bigger to compensate for the larger goaltenders?
- scottak

Nutrition and healthcare haven't changed THAT much over the time period we are looking at (roughly the last 18 to 20 years).

Nutrition and healthcare haven't changed THAT much over the time period we are looking at (roughly the last 18 to 20 years).
- bmeltzer

I was going back a little farther. I just pulled a random sample, the starting position players for the NL MLB all-Stars from 1970 vs. 2014.

1970 - Bench, Allen, Beckert, Perez, Kessinger, Aaron, Carty, Mays
average 72.62 inches tall and 183.6 pounds

2014 - McCutchen, Puig, Tulowitzki, Goldschmidt, Ramirez, Utley, Lucroy, Gomez
average 73.5 inches tall and 213.1 pounds

That's and increase of almost an inch and 30 pounds

Nutrition, healthcare, training. People in all sports are MUCH bigger than they used to be. And not just the out of shape general population. Hockey, MLB, NFL, NBA. Bigger, taller, stronger, faster.