Hank

That's what I'm talking about in regards to the return of the Art of Goaltending. Watching Hasek was really a treat. He was so athletic and acrobatic that he was one of only a few goalies that was worth the price of admission. With slimmer, smaller equipment, the fan is going to be treated to goalies that are truly athletic. I really do believe that if this new standard is enforced we'll see what happened to Jason Allison happen to Giguere. He simply has no real athletic ability to perform well with fair equipment. Luongo's gear is horrible too, but the scary thing about him is he has skill to boot. You know he's still going to be great even with slimmed down stuff.

Especially when a team earns an odd man rush or quality scoring chance and you see on the replay how a part of the goalies inflated padding stopped the puck without the goalie even moving. I'm actually surprised at how goalies rage against the idea of smaller gear. I'm not a goalie but I want to see a return of the art of goaltending - where athleticism and skill are reasons for great saves, not sofa cushions under the jersey. There was a time when I loved watching saves on replays but some of the saves that make the top 10 these days are ridiculous. Does anyone remember Pierre McGuire going bonkers over some stops by Giggy in last years conference finals? Every save he went nuts over was a belly pad save. When's the last time anyone here saw Giggy make a sprawling kick or glove save? It doesn't happen because he's not quick or skilled enough to do them. Instead we have analysts going bananas over a routine save that sunk into their ginormous belly pads. P.S. Phil Esposito said that his brother Tony is able to put one of his old trappers entirely in the mit of a new glove. Why did the gloves have to get bigger? I don't think goalies hands got that much bigger from 40 years ago.

Gretzky wouldn't have even come close to 200 points in today's NHL. He'd be a 120 point player at the very best. And certainly not a 92 goal scorer. It's a wonder that players like Ovechkin or Kovalchuk can even get close to 60 goals. I don't know why people think making the tenders smaller will result in 10-9 games. It will be closer to what the golden era of hockey was, around 7 gpg. Defenses will still be stifling, coaches will still refuse to send in more than 2 forecheckers, and players will collapse on their goalies even more. But at least now guys won't see zero net when they're in the slot. It might even make some players shoot the puck when in that situation instead of passing like they do now.

I agree. But I have a friend that works for Brian's and he said it would be financial suicide to do it on their own. He said every goalie in the NHL would ban their equipment if they proved that they could make equipment half as big but just as safe. Once the NHL sets the standard, the manufacturers will begin making it.

Thank you!

I have absolutely no problem with this. But if anything, the improvements in skaters technology have helped defenses much more than offense. Players are quicker and therefore can backcheck faster - less shots, less odd man rushes, less breakaways. Shin guards and skates are so tough that players can block shots without feeling anything - again goalies benefit. And even with the average guy shooting somewhat harder than players did 20 years ago, it still doesn't explain why goalies need to have equipment that expands out to areas where there is no skin and bones to protect.

Rumor has it that Atlanta wants Chris Higgins (among other prospects) for Hossa. That's not going to happen. If we can snag Hossa for Filpulla it's a no brainer. Especially if we can sign Hossa longterm. Filpulla is going to be a 'good' NHLer but Hossa is great. And it's not like Hossa is 35 years old. He's only 5 years older than Filp, can play all 3 forward positions and is a proven NHL allstar.

Again, why does gear need to be even that big? If they could give them a long sleeved Tshirt that could stop a bullet, then why shouldn't goalies wear it? Even in your modded photo, his leg pads can be chopped, his trapper should be reduced, his belly pad needs to be tucked in, his shoulder pads still need to be cut down and despite his pants being covered up, I've seen Luongo's and they need to be shrunk as well. Just look how far his shoulder pads shoot out. Luongo is a very skinny guy. He doesn't have shoulders like The Rock. His upperbody could be reduced in half. With every post you make, you're basically admitting that goalies should be allowed to cheat simply because they're goalies. Ken Dryden faced shooters like Bobby Hull with basically a turtleneck on. And he didn't have the luxery of traps or defenses that collapsed on him to block shots. Yet despite this, he was still able to survive on the ice. With the way goalies talk nowadays you would have thought a lot more goalies should have died pre-2000 hockey. Suck it up and play with fair gear. There's a reason why goalies were always considered loopy back in the day. Now it's the smartest and safest position to play.

All valid points. And I think it should be noted that technological advances in the skaters gear has allowed everyone to be an effective shot blocker. I've heard Tony Esposito say that today's shin guards are better than the leg pads he wore. If skaters can block shots with the streamlined gear they have, why can't goalie equipment be shrunk as well? I just think it's hilarious that, through advances in materials, while the rest of sporting equipment has shrunk, goalie gear has gotten larger. It makes no sense. The only answer is that goalies are trying to secure jobs by protecting more of the net, not themselves. Luongo has said that he'll quit if they make the nets bigger. Well now it's time for Count Dracula to put his money where his mouth is. He and the rest of the goalies can show the world that they are just as good with smaller, and just as protective, equipment.

You forgot, stuff their jerseys, or rig their gear so flaps extend when they go into the butterfly (see Giguere). Last time I checked human beings don't have skin and bones jutting out from their ears (which is the area being protected when these flaps pop up). The only people who think goalie gear is fine are goalies - big surprise. The rest of the sane population who actually care about hockey and the entertainment value of the sport agrees that gear is out of control. I dont' care what any amateur or beer league goalie says, when actual former pro's or individuals who have jobs in the NHL say that goalie gear needs to be smaller, it should be. And this includes actual current and former goalies such as Brodeur, Turco, Roy, Dryden, Esposito... Answer me this Jocu, what if a manufacturer was able to create goalie gear, from head-to-toe, that was completely 100% safe and prevented the goalie from feeling any pain, but was shrink wrapped to their skin. Would you still object to it? Because if you do, then you're fully admitting that goalies should be allowed to cheat only because they're goalies. We have the technology to shrink tenders without sacrificing safety. And that's exactly what will happen when the standards change. Why fight soemthing that's actually GOOD for the game? Because you're GAA might go up in your local beer league?

You gotta give this guy credit though. That was pretty convincing. Made for an intersting morning at least.

Thanks for posting this. It could easily be a fake but it sure seems convincing that it was his page. Interesting. And if it is true, I think it's fairly safe to say that Kenny locked up Hossa longterm. He's not going to deal Filp and Huds and get nothing out of it. His name isn't Keenan.

It's not so much the chest area it's the belly, arms, leg pads, trapper, blocker and shoulder pads (or height of them). And Kelly Hrudey said two seasons ago that he took practice with an NHL team wearing modern equipment and said it was a joke. He said if he had that gear he would have played another 10 seasons. On some shots, he said he didn't even feel it. That's from a former NHL goalie so please don't take offense when I say I'll believe him over you. And if goalies were so concerned about safety why don't they wear neck guards. The fact is, the goalie equipment has blown up from protecting skin and bones to protecting nets. When I see goalies like Giguere, who have gear where there is no skin or bones, I have a problem. Again, if Broduer (arguabely the greatest goalie in the history of the game) says they can shrink gear, they can do it. And I don't think anyone realises how much of an advantage it is to have XXXL pants and belly pads that stick out 18" from the players stomach. Both can be easily reduced without sacrificing any safety whatsoever.

Did anyone else see the fit he threw on the bench after giving up 3 quick goals to the Wild? Just seeing him swimming in all that gear made me laugh. And the 3 goals he let in were classic Giguere - standing and not even waving at any of the pucks. He has no reflexes whatsoever. And then he blames the defense for not picking up the shootes. Brian Rolston fired a puck from 25 feet away, and on a bad angle, that Giggy saw all the way and yet the only thing he did was turtle his head. Giggy sucks and he's the exact reason why goalie gear needs to be reduced. I'm just tired of watching some of the worlds best hockey players have to compete in an unfair era where goalies are permitted to take up twice the cubic space as goalies did for the past 80 years. The only issue I see is that the goalies and PA will object to this - even with current tenders like Brodeur and Turco wanting change. So in the end, the decision will be the goalies - wear smaller gear or work in front of larger nets. If larger nets are the final decision, no hatred should be directed towards the league or GM's. All of peoples venom should be thrown at the goalies.

Which is precisely why I didn't want the Wings to go after him. He'll be making $6M a year and giving up 5 goals a game. His entire 'ability' is to be as big as possible. With shrunken gear, this guy will be in the ECHL before you can say 'overrated'.

I already bought him a set. Let me know where I can drop them off. P.S. If Holland can fit Hossa under the Cap I think he would love to resign, long-term with the Wings.

I agree. The Wings would be fine for this year without Filpulla. With Dats and Zetts centering their own lines, and with Hossa and Homer with either of them, we'd have two top scoring lines: Cleary-Dats-Homer Sammy-Zetts-Hossa Kopecky-Franzen-Hudler/Downey Maltby-Drapes-Drake

I'd love to have Sundin here but I can only imagine what we'd have to give up. It will probably work to our advantage that he only wants to come here. The price will go down. But I gotta believe Fletcher is upset Sundin won't go to Anaheim (if this rumor is true). If the Leafs could get that Oiler pick from Burke there's great potential Toronto could draft Stamkos and Daughty 1st and 2nd. That's an incredible pair of kids to build a team around.

Lecavailer - Zetterberg Iginla - Datsyuk Lucic - Filpulla Brett Burns - Kronwall Steve Downie - Hudler Keep the flames to a minimum please. Just wanted to see what people thought.

I still can't get over how horrible Marleau has been this year. I gotta believe it has a lot to do with Ron Wilson pushing him under the bus last spring. I think this guy is going to explode with whatever team he gets traded to. He's still young and has a lot of great tools. But who knows? Maybe he goes the way of Falloon and Friesen as just another Shark who's star fizzled far too quickly.

This is only my personal opinion but I think Burns is going to be one heck of a defensman. He's still very young but many feel he'll be regarded in the same category as Phaneuf and Shea Weber in a couple of years. In fact, a lot of hockey analysts think he'll be on the Canadian Olympic team in 2010. Size, strength, great hands, speed. Could be a good one for years to come.

Hahaha. Thanks. And thanks to everyone (except The Secret who molests puppies) who voted. I really hope we make it to the final 5 as we're guarenteed $20,000 for upgrades if we do. I'll definitely keep you guys posted as to how we finish.

Thank you!

Hahaha! That's hilarious that you referenced Jose's. You should see it now. They've made it far more chic. Beers cost $5.00 and all the great Wings chalk drawings have been replaced with aquariums. Any Canadian town is going to have Leaf fans but I'd say it's at least 50-50 in Kingsville for Wings. Thanks again for the votes guys! You're the best!

I'd agree. I've heard many players and GM's say that Vinny is the best forward in the game today. Zetts gets a lot of deserved praise as well, but in my mind, if this straight-up deal was offered to Holland, he should say 'yes' before his brain could even formulate the word. Here's another question for LGW's members: Would you deal Dats and Zetts for Lecavailer and Iginla straight up? If it were offered, I'd do it in a heartbeat.