Old Farts Thread

[Broons66]

For me, if you could put perfect hockey in a time capsule, the hockey played from the mid 80's to say maybe the mid to late 90's would be the best. Every team carried multiple enforcers, so there was never any doubt whether there would be fights. Division rivalrys were much fiercer then also, from the Adams, Norris, etc. I still love the sport even though the game has changed so much in 25 years.

[Maggie3and Me]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

I would like to know, HOW IN THE HELL can some of you elderly fellas (hehe), stand to watch todays NHL compared to the 60's-80's?

If I had three wishes I would literally use one of them to be able to watch hockey from that era.

Very good question/ point CS.

Let me answer by listing everything that is the same now as it was back in the day.
1. The players wear skates
2. The game is played on a frozen surface.

That’s it.

Today, rinks are a standard size. They weren’t back in the day, with some being longer or shorter and more wide and more narrow. There was not a standard ice surface. Today’s ice surface is even of a different mixture then it was.

The lines on the ice are different. The space between the red lines and blue lines is different. So is the face off circles, the end lines, and the trapezoid. These are all different.

The on ice officials are different. There used to be one referee and two linesman. Now you have two of each.

Penalties and rules are different. There was no instigator, third man in,

Today’s sticks are different from the wood shaft and blades.

The sweaters are now called jerseys and made of a different material.

The equipment, uniforms, padding, and helmets are different.

Fights were spontaneous and could and did break out at any time. There were no designated fighters or waiting till after the puck was dropped to go at.

The amount of games was different.

The alignment of the league was different. It is different now than it was after the first two expansions.

The teams and the cities they play in are different.

Back in the day here are a few other things that were different.

We did not have computers, tablets, laptop’s, iphones or any personal cellular phones, answering machines, vcr’s let alone cd’s or dvd’s. There were real people who answered phones at companies rather than the robot voices of today and key pad entries. One of the reasons why is because you did not digital phones. We had rotary dial phones.

We had black and white tv’s or eventually a color tv, with no cable and 5 basic channels. No game boys, game cube, Nintendo, play station. A built in dishwasher was you or your brothers and sisters.

I mention these non hockey things as a way to best answer your question. All the things we did not have came about and changed our lives. Some for the good and some maybe not so good.

Progress in name of change came about, whether or not you were prepared for it or liked it. You either learned how to use the devices of change, or you were swallowed up by them. Your clinging to old fashioned ways and ideas and refusing to learn the tools of change, while noble in gesture, made you miss out on so much that is/was going on around you.

Were you forever going to have that new fangled vcr keep flashing at you or were you going to learn how to set the clock.

I do not embrace all the changes in hockey. Some make me angry, make me shake my head in disgust, or just curse the game for its changes. The game today is not the game it was when I saw my first game in 1959. But then again, I was fourteen then, I have aged and changed also. According to my wife, some for the better and some for the worse.

The biggest difference is that the game will never be the same as it once was. Like it or not. Complain about it or not. With those options, I choose to continue to watch a game I love.

By the way, you younger posters embrace and enjoy the product on ice that you are watching today. For these teams, style of play, and memories will be your good old days.

If it wouldn't be to much to ask, if your wishes were granted Cat, could you take me with you?

[bustoff]

Damn Mags, you're a lot older than me so I don't feel as bad now. I miss listening to Dan Kelly and Gus Kyle more than anything as far as the old days go. That and watching a Blues game on a 12 inch black and white with my old man.......

[Flyer_Frank]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

I would like to know, HOW IN THE HELL can some of you elderly fellas (hehe), stand to watch todays NHL compared to the 60's-80's?

If I had three wishes I would literally use one of them to be able to watch hockey from that era.

Hell, one of my wishes would be to be able to follow the game from before I started watching in the early 70s. It would be awesome to go back and see the game as it really was then, not just through photos and old film, which doesn't really tell the whole story.

I really like today's game though. I think it's just awesome right now, I really do. Different of course, but still awesome.

[Cat Smasher]

Originally Posted by Maggie3and Me

If it wouldn't be to much to ask, if your wishes were granted Cat, could you take me with you?

Every time I bring up hockey and fighting and entertainment my old man has story after story about Eddie Shack. Said there was even a song about him and he would go around riding his stick and he had like the Plager brothers or something all chasing him. I'd donate a testicle to Kessel just to see any of those eras live.

For sure, and the beers would be ice cold my man.


EDIT* I would also like to add one time downtown Toronto a pan handler walks up to my old man begging for some change, this pan handler was Bruce Gamble a year or two removed from hockey.

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

Every time I bring up hockey and fighting and entertainment my old man has story after story about Eddie Shack. Said there was even a song about him and he would go around riding his stick and he had like the Plager brothers or something all chasing him. I'd donate a testicle to Kessel just to see any of those eras live.

For sure, and the beers would be ice cold my man.


EDIT* I would also like to add one time downtown Toronto a pan handler walks up to my old man begging for some change, this pan handler was Bruce Gamble a year or two removed from hockey.

The thing is with many old time hockey players is the fact they never even finished "PUBLIC SCHOOL" !!!! If they could not get work in the game of hockey many became panhandlers .

Many guys like Shack could not read or write , all they knew was hockey , Eddie was a lucky one , he was so popular he made a fortune in indorsements , Pop Shop became a top soft drink seller because of him ..

[Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by fansince65

The thing is with many old time hockey players is the fact they never even finished "PUBLIC SCHOOL" !!!! If they could not get work in the game of hockey many became panhandlers .

Many guys like Shack could not read or write , all they knew was hockey , Eddie was a lucky one , he was so popular he made a fortune in indorsements , Pop Shop became a top soft drink seller because of him ..

Shack also owned a few donut shops, a christmas tree lot etc. I have on a 45 the "Clear the Track, Here comes Shack" song. I think Brian McFarlane wrote it.

[Maggie3and Me]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

Every time I bring up hockey and fighting and entertainment my old man has story after story about Eddie Shack. Said there was even a song about him and he would go around riding his stick and he had like the Plager brothers or something all chasing him. I'd donate a testicle to Kessel just to see any of those eras live.

For sure, and the beers would be ice cold my man.


EDIT* I would also like to add one time downtown Toronto a pan handler walks up to my old man begging for some change, this pan handler was Bruce Gamble a year or two removed from hockey.

Cat, it would be my pleasure.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

Shack also owned a few donut shops, a christmas tree lot etc. I have on a 45 the "Clear the Track, Here comes Shack" song. I think Brian McFarlane wrote it.

I hated that fukn thing with Eddie. Every time I heard that song and saw him riding that hockey stick I think I secretly hoped he would loose an edge and fall on his ass.

He was a showman and a self promoter and even though he was a pain in the ass, he was good for hockey. He wasn't quite as bad when he first came up with the Rangers, but after he went to Toronto he started developing his persona.

People forget the guy could play hockey and was a pretty good scrapper. He had to be. In his 16 years in the league, he had over 225 goals and about that in assists. Also, he had well over 1400 PIM. He was more of a pest an antagonist, but could fight. He had several fights with Reg Fleming, a few with Bobby Hull and Ted Green. I think he fought Ferguson once.

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by Maggie3and Me

Cat, it would be my pleasure.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I hated that fukn thing with Eddie. Every time I heard that song and saw him riding that hockey stick I think I secretly hoped he would loose an edge and fall on his ass.

He was a showman and a self promoter and even though he was a pain in the ass, he was good for hockey. He wasn't quite as bad when he first came up with the Rangers, but after he went to Toronto he started developing his persona.

People forget the guy could play hockey and was a pretty good scrapper. He had to be. In his 16 years in the league, he had over 225 goals and about that in assists. Also, he had well over 1400 PIM. He was more of a pest an antagonist, but could fight. He had several fights with Reg Fleming, a few with Bobby Hull and Ted Green. I think he fought Ferguson once.

And Henri Richard severl times .

I was told a story of what happened in a game that Shack fought Henri by an EX ref that was working that game , as shack was skateing past the Habs bench Maurice was suposed to have said "THANK YOU EDDY FOR NOT HITTING MY BROTHER WITH YOUR NOSE , IF YOU HAD YOU COULD HAVE SPLIT HIM WIDE OPEN " !!

Now I dont know if that's true or not but it got a big laugh out of me ..

[Maggie3and Me]

Originally Posted by fansince65

And Henri Richard severl times .

I was told a story of what happened in a game that Shack fought Henri by an EX ref that was working that game , as shack was skateing past the Habs bench Maurice was suposed to have said "THANK YOU EDDY FOR NOT HITTING MY BROTHER WITH YOUR NOSE , IF YOU HAD YOU COULD HAVE SPLIT HIM WIDE OPEN " !!

Now I dont know if that's true or not but it got a big laugh out of me ..

That's a funny story.

Shack fought Fergie twice I think. I know he fought Magnuson and of course he fought Jim Dorey and Hadfield a number of times.

[Maggie3and Me]

I did a long post on Shack's career in the Remember When section.

[canuckfan]

Had real mixed feelings today when I saw that the Canucks shut down Manny Malhotra today, effectively ending his season and perhaps his NHL career. Mike Gillis has spun the move as if to appear they're concerned about his health and personal well being, but really, this was a purely hockey decision and Manny's skills have declined to the point where there was no spot for him on the roster anymore.

At least the Canucks were nice enough to ensure his time here as ended with some kind of dignity - no waivers, no banishment to the minors, no outright release - being placed on long term IR also ensures he'll be paid the full amount of his salary, so for Manny it could be worse, but it still sucks to see it end like this for such a good guy.

But it got me thinking - Malhotra suffered a catastrophic eye injury that he obviously never fully recovered from, and it happened at a time when he was playing the best hockey of his career. The timing of it was also terrible as a healthy Manny is the 2011 finals might have made a difference against the Bruins.

We all know about the Orrs, the Lindros's, the Neely's - what other NHLers were struck down with catastrophic, gruesome, and nasty injuries in the prime of their careers that they were never able to fully recover from?

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by canuckfan

Had real mixed feelings today when I saw that the Canucks shut down Manny Malhotra today, effectively ending his season and perhaps his NHL career. Mike Gillis has spun the move as if to appear they're concerned about his health and personal well being, but really, this was a purely hockey decision and Manny's skills have declined to the point where there was no spot for him on the roster anymore.

At least the Canucks were nice enough to ensure his time here as ended with some kind of dignity - no waivers, no banishment to the minors, no outright release - being placed on long term IR also ensures he'll be paid the full amount of his salary, so for Manny it could be worse, but it still sucks to see it end like this for such a good guy.

But it got me thinking - Malhotra suffered a catastrophic eye injury that he obviously never fully recovered from, and it happened at a time when he was playing the best hockey of his career. The timing of it was also terrible as a healthy Manny is the 2011 finals might have made a difference against the Bruins.

We all know about the Orrs, the Lindros's, the Neely's - what other NHLers were struck down with catastrophic, gruesome, and nasty injuries in the prime of their careers that they were never able to fully recover from?

I have a list of some real good players that had to retire in their prime because of post concussion syndrome alone , here are just a few names from that list you just may recognize .

Eric/Bret Lindros , Matt Barnaby, Keith Premeau , Scott Stevens , Petre Svboda , Pat LaFontaine another pair of brothers Steve and Mark Moore , some real dam good hockey players have had their careers cut short by concussions ..

[Maggie3and Me]

Originally Posted by canuckfan

Had real mixed feelings today when I saw that the Canucks shut down Manny Malhotra today, effectively ending his season and perhaps his NHL career. Mike Gillis has spun the move as if to appear they're concerned about his health and personal well being, but really, this was a purely hockey decision and Manny's skills have declined to the point where there was no spot for him on the roster anymore.

At least the Canucks were nice enough to ensure his time here as ended with some kind of dignity - no waivers, no banishment to the minors, no outright release - being placed on long term IR also ensures he'll be paid the full amount of his salary, so for Manny it could be worse, but it still sucks to see it end like this for such a good guy.

But it got me thinking - Malhotra suffered a catastrophic eye injury that he obviously never fully recovered from, and it happened at a time when he was playing the best hockey of his career. The timing of it was also terrible as a healthy Manny is the 2011 finals might have made a difference against the Bruins.

We all know about the Orrs, the Lindros's, the Neely's - what other NHLers were struck down with catastrophic, gruesome, and nasty injuries in the prime of their careers that they were never able to fully recover from?

Nice post, canuckfan. It is good to see you here again.

When I read this in the Player Movement thread, I thought of you and was hoping you would post to this news. It always sucks when a man as young as Manny can no longer earn a living at what they have known for most of their lives.

From your post, it appears that Vancouver is trying to take care of him. We must remember this is a business though. A lot of times flowery things are said at the time of an incident, but like all flowers, in time they wilt and die. Lets hope the Canucks take care of him.

Is it long term IR or regular IR that he is on?

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by Maggie3and Me

Nice post, canuckfan. It is good to see you here again.

When I read this in the Player Movement thread, I thought of you and was hoping you would post to this news. It always sucks when a man as young as Manny can no longer earn a living at what they have known for most of their lives.

From your post, it appears that Vancouver is trying to take care of him. We must remember this is a business though. A lot of times flowery things are said at the time of an incident, but like all flowers, in time they wilt and die. Lets hope the Canucks take care of him.

Is it long term IR or regular IR that he is on?

You must have missed in his post Maggs , he did say Manny was put on long term IR ..