nhldave said:
Consider how much better the training, conditioning, coaching, scouting, strategizing, teaching tools and equipment are today compared to 50 years ago.
Consider that the talent pool today is about 30 times larger than it was 50 years ago.
Consider the speed of the game today, only the very best of the best from 50 years ago could hope to compete in today's game.
Did you know that a lot of NHL players smoked back then? Can you imagine any NHLer today doing that? Guy Lafleur quite commonly had a smoke break between periods!
"Clear the Track Here Comes Shack". I'm afraid old Eddie wouldn't make waterboy on an NHL team today.
I knew this was going to bit me in the butt, I was going to state what you said in your 2 first paragraphs, but I would have contradicted myself. I was going to mention the smoking thing but I knew someone would say it.
The equipment helps players of today, I do believe that it allows them to play better, but I question is it the technologies of today are making the player or is it the player that makes the player.
About the talent pool, I agree to a certain extent; back 50 years ago most people were in shape and most Canadians played hockey before anything else. Today the NHL has competition with other sports in Canada, meaning that alot of kids now are pursuing careers in NBA, MLB, NFL, CFL instead of the NHL. Also times change and so do the people, now kids are sitting back pursuing a NHL career on their PS2's instead of going out and playing the game. Also, not the best players get drafted. You may look back but alot of players such as Belfour, St.Louis, Cujo were never drafted and had great careers but that is only because, like you said there are so many people still wanting to play.
Would players from 50 years ago be able to play at the NHL today, I would say YES! Could you imagine players from 50 years ago with the medical treatments of today, Bobby Orr would have been playing another few years instead of having to retire, that I'm sure of! Like I said before the equipment players have now protect them is so well made that it can allow players to play longer than expected ( Messier, Yzerman).
Alot of people smoked back then but also, people didn't know the health issues that smoking can bring to a person. Trainers, if they knew what smoking did, would have never allowed players to do it.