Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
Equipment advances AND advances in technique result in today's game. Not saying it doesn't.
Dan - to say the least, it's ironic you've classified Esposito as a "slow lumbering" skater, after you've been on here pontificating constantly about the unfounded criticism of players who are SO skilled that they make skating look effortless (I agree BTW). My point to Ray was that Espo was probably criticized for the same thing in his time, and so I picked out a video clip where he took the puck literally from the back of the breakout, dished the puck in transition, and then beat everyone up ice to get behind the (Stanley Cup champion) Flyers' defense by a fair margin to score.
Your time travel example (i.e. current day JvR playing in TOR's era and scoring 400 goals in 900 games) may even be right, but it's irrelevant, isn't it? Just as irrelevant that John Tavares would go for 600 goals in 900 games, or Ovechkin for 900 in 900.
The facts remain, Terry O'Reilly was a more impactful player in his era than JvR was in his. Ray backed off and to his credit, he made a more relevant comparison. And JvR is an above average NHL forward who has yet to be recognized as an All-Star, and was pretty much allowed to leave his last employer because they figured he was (wait for it … ) a 2nd or 3rd line player in their overall scheme of trying to construct a Stanley Cup championship caliber team. He is an excellent skater who has developed a knack for scoring in the tough areas in front. That's a nice asset, especially for later in his career, when he will probably be a coveted (wait for it … ) 3rd line forward and power play specialist on a Cup-contending team. Not in Philly, though.
Does anyone doubt that, armed with advances in technique and equipment, Espo would be an elite scorer in modern-day hockey? 700+ goals didn't happen by accident. I don't doubt it for a second ...
Equipment advances AND advances in technique result in today's game. Not saying it doesn't.
Dan - to say the least, it's ironic you've classified Esposito as a "slow lumbering" skater, after you've been on here pontificating constantly about the unfounded criticism of players who are SO skilled that they make skating look effortless (I agree BTW). My point to Ray was that Espo was probably criticized for the same thing in his time, and so I picked out a video clip where he took the puck literally from the back of the breakout, dished the puck in transition, and then beat everyone up ice to get behind the (Stanley Cup champion) Flyers' defense by a fair margin to score.
Your time travel example (i.e. current day JvR playing in TOR's era and scoring 400 goals in 900 games) may even be right, but it's irrelevant, isn't it? Just as irrelevant that John Tavares would go for 600 goals in 900 games, or Ovechkin for 900 in 900.
The facts remain, Terry O'Reilly was a more impactful player in his era than JvR was in his. Ray backed off and to his credit, he made a more relevant comparison. And JvR is an above average NHL forward who has yet to be recognized as an All-Star, and was pretty much allowed to leave his last employer because they figured he was (wait for it … ) a 2nd or 3rd line player in their overall scheme of trying to construct a Stanley Cup championship caliber team. He is an excellent skater who has developed a knack for scoring in the tough areas in front. That's a nice asset, especially for later in his career, when he will probably be a coveted (wait for it … ) 3rd line forward and power play specialist on a Cup-contending team. Not in Philly, though.
Does anyone doubt that, armed with advances in technique and equipment, Espo would be an elite scorer in modern-day hockey? 700+ goals didn't happen by accident. I don't doubt it for a second ...
)
...anyway, 'Cats in this one after the first; like the tempo and only 1 (gulp) penalty. Go 'Cats!!