NHL players to use heated blades

[Izzy24 44]

I hope Phaneuf doesn't plan on using this

Might it look something

?

[SweWings 45]

I wonder how much speed will increase if they add a dragon on the blade...

[maltbyrocks18 0]

Thermoblade tester Robert lang says: " I will never have to take more than a stride a shift and glide for ever!!!"

[55fan 5,133]

You say "creates ruts in the ice". I think "broken leg". Knee-jerk Kronwall fan reaction, perhaps, but do we really need more accidents waiting to happen?

For crying out loud, let's just let the boys skate. If we're adding techological factors to the game, let's add ones that make the game safer (not being a sissy, just sayin') not ones that could cause injury.

On the other hand, what's to stop Chris Chelios from inventing new technology?

[Guest jaytan]

the only problem i see with this is that not every player will have them at first. lets say one person from each team gets choosen to have them. nashville would choose tootoo, st. louis would choose kariya, detroit would choose chelios, and every other team would choose someone else.

Do you really think it would be a good idea to put an improved blade in the hands of Mr. Tootoo? Someone might end up with their jugular slashed and burnt. And what's to stop Chris Chelios from skating around the ice so fast that all the ice melts and the opposing team ends up drowned?

[zata40 3]

common people how can you not like this, it's "Fire On Ice"

[auxlepli 17]

The NHL has real issues to face yet they're trying this new technology?

Sheesh, they - Bettman, owners, BOGs - have their collective head up their collective ass.

Four hundred dollars for a pair of skates, but yet to get people hooked on hockey IMO it needs to be more affordable for the parents and the kids. Expect ticket prices to rise again.

[Izzy24 44]

The NHL has real issues to face yet they're trying this new technology?

Sheesh, they - Bettman, owners, BOGs - have their collective head up their collective ass.

Four hundred dollars for a pair of skates, but yet to get people hooked on hockey IMO it needs to be more affordable for the parents and the kids. Expect ticket prices to rise again.

That's how much a fairly upper-end pair of skates costs now. My understanding is that it's $400 for the blade/holder, which is installed on existing boots. The whole package is going to be a lot more than $400.

[BlakChamber 8]

Heated blades?? Oh no! I know what's happening...

[Hank 0]

If they want to prove to the players and fans that these skates actually work they should have Jason Allison wear them for a game. If he's able to keep up with the zamboni then we know it's going to work.

[Kutcher 0]

Do you really think it would be a good idea to put an improved blade in the hands of Mr. Tootoo? Someone might end up with their jugular slashed and burnt. And what's to stop Chris Chelios from skating around the ice so fast that all the ice melts and the opposing team ends up drowned?

Atleast with the heated blades the gash would get cauterized...

[Lidstromrules16 7]

The wings players should use it first, you know, because their slogan is fire on ice and all.

[Guest jaytan]

Maybe they should only let slow and old players use these skates. We could bring back Hatch!

[Barrie 900]

With these new ideas, which seem to be weekly, I'm wondering if they'll actually make the game better, or are they making changes to try and grow the game in the USA.

Whatever it is, I just wish the NHL would stop beating a dead horse, and just caiter to their core fans. Hockey only works in certain US markets, and I wish Bettman and the owner could understand that.

[lidstromfan5 3]

I heard a rumor about these blades. Apparently the reason the chip is in these skates is because there needs to be a device that can decifer when you activate the blades by saying "Go Go Gadget Hockey Skates!" (wah wah)

[Izzy24 44]

I heard a rumor about these blades. Apparently the reason the chip is in these skates is because there needs to be a device that can decifer when you activate the blades by saying "Go Go Gadget Hockey Skates!" (wah wah)

EXACTLY!

[pucker4fischer 0]

hmm, what say you about slightly heated pucks??? sizzlin' --- but not hot enough to burn through goalie gloves

[datsyukonethree 0]

You say "creates ruts in the ice". I think "broken leg". Knee-jerk Kronwall fan reaction, perhaps, but do we really need more accidents waiting to happen?

Or it could be that the new blades are less susceptible to ruts since the melting factor will help even out irregularities. I wonder what they'd do to the ice if every player on both teams was using the, though.

[Flip-check 6]

hmm, what say you about slightly heated pucks??? sizzlin' --- but not hot enough to burn through goalie gloves

NHL Open Ice was the bomb. "He's ON FIRE!@"

I played that game endlessly. NBA JAM? Fuhgeddaboudit!

Edited October 18, 2007 by Flip-check

[MacK_Attack 108]

I guess I'm an old fuddy-duddy but I don't like this.

Skates with microchips?

Players are already wicked fast so with even more speed we'll see more concussions and easier backchecking.

The popular misconception is that these blades allow a player to skate faster, when in fact, they allow the player to get up to top speed faster and with less effort.

It makes stops and starts easier, it makes skating on snowy ice (late in periods) much easier and it allows players to glide longer.

The biggest difference is going to be perhaps lengthened shifts and a higher energy level later in games.

[Drimo 0]

I don't like the idea. I think professional sports should have to play the game with the same equipment "normal" people play with and at an even keel. Meaning most of us wouldn't have heated blades. To me, it feels like it gives an uneven advantage and that's not good sportsmanship.

[BlakChamber 8]

I don't like the idea. I think professional sports should have to play the game with the same equipment "normal" people play with and at an even keel. Meaning most of us wouldn't have heated blades. To me, it feels like it gives an uneven advantage and that's not good sportsmanship.

How is it an uneven advantage and poor sportsmanship if NHL players use expensive, top of the line skates and I use a pair of $100 skates in my beer league? It's only an advantage if for some reason, I was playing against NHL'ers, and they'd have a huge advantage over me no matter what skates they were using.

[Drimo 0]

Consider an ideal scenario where everyone uses the same equipment. The better players would be the players with greater skill and performance as an athlete, not because they have been given an advantage of having special equipment available.

It's my opinion, but I'm not a fan of the idea of using heated blades.

[Izzy24 44]

Consider an ideal scenario where everyone uses the same equipment. The better players would be the players with greater skill and performance as an athlete, not because they have been given an advantage of having special equipment available.

It's my opinion, but I'm not a fan of the idea of using heated blades.

Yes, but if the testing proves successful, everyone will be using the heated blades. The only players that won't be will be the ones who opt not to use them, because of personal preference, not because of cost.

Does Datsyuk have an unfair advantage because he uses a special stick? No, everyone in the NHL could be using the O-Stick, most choose not to.

[BringHomeTheCup! 0]

I guess I'm an old fuddy-duddy but I don't like this.

Skates with microchips?

Players are already wicked fast so with even more speed we'll see more concussions and easier backchecking.

I'm one of the few that thinks there should be less technological advances.

Get rid of the composite sticks, the hard armour used in shoulder pads and elbow pads and shrink the goalie gear.

All of these things have done nothing but hurt the sport, not help.

Soon players will be so fast that they'll be forced to play on Olympic size ice making the transformation of NHL hockey into European hockey complete. If you think the trap is bad now, wait until we get a bigger ice surface.

So what you are saying is the NHL should require all players to used the same equipment that was used back in the 40's? Seriously man, how has technology not helped the game? Any technology that doesn't is quickly cast aside. Anyone else remember those "LockJaw" blades from TPS?

As for the Olympic size rink, I for one would love to see that. It would create a much more free flowing game, it's nearly impossible to play the trap on that surface. There is just too much area to cover.