What are the advantages to playing the early 90's style?

[jf-laflaire]

If figure it would be a good topic of discussion.

I was watching a game from 1992 Pens and Rangers play-offs last night. It got me thinking a little.

I thought Richter was solid.

Anyway.

Compare 2 extremes from that time...

1. More of a pure stand-up (Barasso, Chevaldae, McKlean, Hextall...).

2. More of a pure paddle-down/butterfly/flopper (Potvin, Belfour, ect.).

What did they teach at hockey schools for goalies?
Are there any techniques from then that are superior to today's goalies skills?

[Oddzilla51]

I personally don't think that one is better than the other.

But, goalies should know how to incorporate saves from both types you mentioned.

You're more effective and dangerous when you have a larger arsenal to work with.

No one should limit themselves to just "standing up" or "dropping to your knees".

We should learn how to use each save and more importantly WHEN to use each save.

But that's just my schlub opinion. I've only had a couple of clinics with Keeks and never had any formal training. Just my feelings and observations.

[sloth2946]

Goalies back then had to rely on their athleticism more then just being in solid position. Equipment size has some to do with that, defensive schemes has more to do with it, and watered down talent too.

This is why there were only a few goalies who were really the top tier goalies back then and they really didn't fluctuate like we can have more one year wonders now. The guys at the top of the game back then, Belfour, Roy, Richter, Bar*******, Vernon and a couple other guys were just simply far superior athletes. They had to make do with a lot less then the guys today have, but obviously they had a lot more then the guys from 10 years prior.

I digress....

Goalie clinics/camps were essentially non-existent back then. I can only think of a couple, the most notable was Tretiak's. By and large all that was emphasized was angles and save selections. Things like recoveries or even off ice training and conditioning were not emphasized by the majority of camps I looked into back in the day. God forbid a goalie went to a regular camp....he was just a target then.

[Old Swiss2]

The only advantages of playing the early 90's style is for the shooters. Unlike then, no one is giving up face off circle wristers anymore... unless they play in rural Colorado.

[jf-laflaire]

I was watching the a game with Chevaldae in net for the Wings, got, he was not athletic at all. I mean a lot those goals he let in would be stopped by the average butterfly-hybrid (any of today's goalies with little modern game). But then I look at Richter and he just blows my mind away, how athletic and dynmanic he was.

I remember watching the 92 All Star Skills in Philly and the guy (Richter) was awesome. What got me the most was on rapid fire drills how he's stand-up for shots in his range and go down for shots to the corners...who really does that alot in today's NHL (I know, strike thing!)?

To answer my post a little...

1. Save selection was better in the early 90's.
2. Goalie's used their sticks in the early 90's better than today.
3. Goalie's improvised better in the early 90's verses today.
4. Goalies stood up better.
5. Rebound control was more of an issue (and better) in the early 90's.

I think the improvements in today's game are quite obvious from previous posts (or in otherwords, I willl do a search!).

[sloth2946]

You just made every Wings fan have a seizure...you mentioned Cheveldae and the Wings in the same sentence. Bad idea.

[Puddy]

Anything that throws Wings fans into fits is most definitely a good idea.

[NastyDragon]

Eph off! You non-Wings fans are just jelous.

Seriously though, if 10" pads do become the norm (and I still hope they don't, just for appearance's sake, as well as the sake of conformity throughout the hockey commnunity) I would think that there will be a few guys who will have the superiour talent and athleticism of a Mike Richter who will go back to playing the early 90's "read and react" style. It should make goalies more exciting to watch.

And as far as the Wings thing goes, I guess we'll see how they do once the cap is in place. I think Illitch will spend the money he saves on the NHL club on
top-notch front office people, good scouts, top coaches and a great minor league system and the Wings will eventually continue their dominance. While the salary cap will even the playing field dramatically at the NHL level, the teams with deeper pockets will still find ways to develop better talent.

[kevinsane]

for Moto, it's an excuse to keep his mullet.

[guest1]

I'm quite certain I hate three people in this thread.

[PenguinMan]

Guys, a 10" pad doesn't mean you can't still be a predomantly butterfly goalie. When I was first starting out in net, I was using Tour GTLs which are about 10.5" across on a good day. When they hit ice they compress to around 10". Granted, I missed a few squakers that the extra 2" on my Velocities now eat up, but it's not like I had to completely relearn the position.

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by sloth2946

You just made every Wings fan have a seizure...you mentioned Cheveldae and the Wings in the same sentence. Bad idea.

OMG I hated that guy.

I recall a story about during a game against Scotty Bowman, Bowman was going to ask for measurment of his goal pads. When asked why, he said "Because he never stopped that many when he played us."

[rhanz]

I think that if anything, a 10" wide pad will make standup styles less effective.

Any puck going for that upper 2" of pad, you should be trying to get glove or blocker on anyway. Taking away 4" of horizontal coverage in a standup position, however.... I can see that being a bit of a killer.

Just my uneducated opinion

[MetropolisPt31]

Originally Posted by Aaron

OMG I hated that guy.

I recall a story about during a game against Scotty Bowman, Bowman was going to ask for measurment of his goal pads. When asked why, he said "Because he never stopped that many when he played us."

Actually, he was talking about Bob Essensa and his glove.

"I just wanted to see if it was legal because when he was with us, he couldn't catch a thing"

[Oddzilla51]

Originally Posted by sloth2946

You just made every Wings fan have a seizure...you mentioned Cheveldae and the Wings in the same sentence. Bad idea.

No, no. Jen doesn't read this.