One more point, and not in reference to flattbutt, but goalies tended to be the 'less athletic' players who still wanted to play hockey, and many were quite small.

This is no longer the case, the goalies are huge (lots are 6'4" and taller) and amazing athletes. So you have a larger person, better athlete, with much much larger equipment. Guess what happens?

I suspect a goalie now covers 20% more area versus 20 years ago.

You didn't intend it but yes I was very small as a goalie. Heck when people saw me during a match they couldn't reconcile that image with seeing me w/out my gear. Funny stuff sometimes!

Facts:

84 per cent of today’s goalies are taller than the league average just ten years ago.

The average goalie height increases every year, as does the average height of goalies drafted.

The average height of drafted goalies drops every round of the draft, i.e. smaller goalies get drafted later.

I've posted this before but it shows you how small I was in the pipes.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1449787775.jpg

Darren Pang would never have made it in today's NHL. Next we'll see sumo wrestlers who fill the entire net?

Going in a different direction, we saw the shift from bruisers to speedsters (and younger players) after the lockout. Now with 3 on 3 and less fighting, it looks like player size is getting to be less of an issue.
Krug, Gerbe, Zuccarello, Gionta... even the little ball of hate is only 5'9"
It used to be small players were rare: Martin St Louis was undrafted!

Add Dennis Maruk & Cliff Ronning to the that list of 'notso-tall' players who went on to have productive NHL careers.

Cheers
JB

Johnny Gaudreau is 5'9" and a buck sixty.
He is a scoring machine particularly 3 on 3.
Those Flames won their way back to .500 the other night.

Hey Flat

You look very reminiscent of Emile "The Cat" Francis - who pioneered the development of that catching glove you're flashing with flair & panache. Good onya.

Cheers
JB

My kids were off from school, so we took a road trip to watch the Bruins practice.
Brad with pal, Patrice.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1450804351.jpg

Thanks! Emile Francis was my role model when it came to standing up to a shooter. Eddie Giacomin inspired my lateral movement as shown in that pic.

Got to meet The Cat at Eddies retirement game.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1450824124.jpg

Very cool photo flat. Good win over the Wings tonight for NJ.

The B's were not there tonight. The only good news is the Wings and the Habs lost as well and the Sens only got 1 point. Watching the Habs I realized that not having Price in goal is not their only problem. Offense is not coordinated. They played well for about 10 minutes but the first 50 weren't that hot. Gallagher is part of the problem but there aren't any tape to tape passes, too many off sides, and Subban has forgotten where the net is. They've lost 9 out of the last 10. It will be interesting to see what they can put together after the break.

Expect a suspension for Marchand to come shortly after the incident tonight...

I don't know the rule on that hit, I'd need to look it up. It didn't look like a clip as it looked to be well above the knee . Not exactly a blind side hit nor was it a slew foot. Flipping a guy over is dangerous yes but I really don't know the rule that applies.

This rule probably will be used:

Rule 21—Match Penalties, states that a match penalty shall be imposed on any player who deliberately attempts to injure or who deliberately injures an opponent in any manner.

It is also a 'low bridge', and Marchand received a five game suspension previously for a similar hit, although on that occasion at least they were both going for the puck...

We used to call that 'low-bridging' - a cheap & unsafe move. Rat-face got suspended a few years back for the same type of hit on Sami Salo so it remains to be seen what the league will do in this case. You're right Flat - the end result of the hit was dangerous & in my opinion has to be addressed with some form of disciplinary action.

Cheers
JB

Edit: Due to my slow & almost non-existent typing skills, 1990C4S beat me to the punch.

I wrote my reply hours ago...just forgot to hit 'Post Quick Reply'.

I believe this type of suspension comes from the department of player safety. Which is appropriate. The hit was unsafe, unnecessary, unexpected, and dangerous.

I still do not understand how that happens, and yet none of the four referees saw it....no penalty? A linesman can make that call...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1451495587.jpg

There are some differences between this incident and the one with Salo. The Salo hit was predatory and deserved the 5 games. In this case, Borowiecki was blocking Marchand from turning left to go after the puck. They were already bumping each other. Marchand made a hard left turn to get around Borowiecki. Ergonomically he took the best route BUT he went too low. Player Safety will have to decide if it was at or below the knees.

Unlike Prust who was only fined $5k for a spear to the groin. Predatory, intent to injure.

In Marchand's favor is that both players were dicing with each other, he has been "good" lately (the previous low bridge was 4 years ago), and there was no injury. Unlike Prust who was fined $5k for a spear to the groin. Predatory, intent to injure amd yet only $5k. Chump change to them.

Marchand may get a game or two due to his history.

3 games and, probably worst of all, he has to watch the Winter Classic from the cheap seats.

The Bruins won the Winter Classic Alumni game in a shootout. Orr wasn't there (?). I hope it is a sign of good things to come for tomorrow.