Illegal Sticks

[Turkey 0]

$100??? seriously? That's nothing. Why not just say, "The team in question will be told they are very, very naughty?"

It would amount to the same thing.

[toby91_ca 620]

No kidding, if you want to use a big curve, then use a big curve, it really isn't that much of an advantage. Shooting ability is greatly favored to talent, rather than your curve.

Brett Hull was quoted as saying he wouldn't have even scored 300 goals without cheating (i.e. the curve on his stick).

The only reason I can come up with for the rule is safety. With bigger curves, shots are going to be travelling with more velocity, rising high and potentially with less accuracy (not sure about this, but I'm guessing). To me, I'd be more worried if I was one of the other 9 players out there than I would if I was the goalie, who should be protected pretty well.

[Guest octopusdank]

IMO, any stick not made mostly out of wood is an illegal stick.

[Gordie Howe hat trick 110]

Brett Hull was quoted as saying he wouldn't have even scored 300 goals without cheating (i.e. the curve on his stick).

Which means he isn't half the player his father was, and we should keep him out of the Hall of Fame. That isn't sarcasm either, I hate Brett Hull.

[Pskov Wings Fan 71]

The only reason I can come up with for the rule is safety. With bigger curves, shots are going to be travelling with more velocity, rising high and potentially with less accuracy (not sure about this, but I'm guessing). To me, I'd be more worried if I was one of the other 9 players out there than I would if I was the goalie, who should be protected pretty well.

All the cases I can remember of a player being hit in a face with a puck were caused by a deflection (and quite frequently from his own stick).

[CenterIce 83]

The curve was recently increased (beginning of this year maybe?). I don't know what curve the players in discussion had, but the legal curve is more than it was before. The funny thing was I remember the comment about the change was that you probably wouldn't see anymore illegal sticks, because the change was more than enough.

Rule 10.1:

The curvature of the blade of the stick shall be restricted in such a way that the distance of a perpendicular line measured from a straight line drawn from any point at the heel to the end of the blade to the point of maximum curvature shall not exceed three-quarters of an inch (3/4").

Edited March 10, 2008 by CenterIce

[arnoldbuck 0]

the Illegal curve rule is so dumb. I know it has been argued, but the NHL wants more scoring, the snipers like the curves, ... its not going to hurt anyone. Let them use whatever kinda curves they want. ...

...they'll just have zero backhand.

[T-Ruff 47]

Agreed, there should be no illegal curves, it would make this whole thing a lot simpler and maybe even help the NHL's obsession with more offense a bit......

[zata40 3]

[Dano33 41]

Brett Hull was quoted as saying he wouldn't have even scored 300 goals without cheating (i.e. the curve on his stick).

The only reason I can come up with for the rule is safety. With bigger curves, shots are going to be travelling with more velocity, rising high and potentially with less accuracy (not sure about this, but I'm guessing). To me, I'd be more worried if I was one of the other 9 players out there than I would if I was the goalie, who should be protected pretty well.

This seems to be a misunderstanding that many people have. The curve on your stick is whatever you are comfortable with. A big curve may help some people shoot better, but a small curve would help others. The amount of curve does not change the velocity or height of your shot. Oh, and Brett could not have been serious when he said that, there is just no way that a different curve would account for 400+ goals. 700 goals is not about a curve, it is about skill.

[imisssergei 0]

This seems to be a misunderstanding that many people have. The curve on your stick is whatever you are comfortable with. A big curve may help some people shoot better, but a small curve would help others. The amount of curve does not change the velocity or height of your shot. Oh, and Brett could not have been serious when he said that, there is just no way that a different curve would account for 400+ goals. 700 goals is not about a curve, it is about skill.

You may view it as a misunderstanding but it is scientific fact that a larger curve will help you shoot the puck harder. The more curve on the blade a stick, the more spin the puck has on it when it leaves the stick. The more spin on the puck, the easier it is for the puck to travel through the air, creating a harder shot. Potential into kinetic.

The loft, or height of the shot is directly affected by the curve of ones stick. It's impossible for it not to. The larger the curve, the more conducive to higher shot it is.

All this is relative however. The actual effect that the curve has is very minimal, especially with the skill set that NHLers posses.

[Dano33 41]

You may view it as a misunderstanding but it is scientific fact that a larger curve will help you shoot the puck harder. The more curve on the blade a stick, the more spin the puck has on it when it leaves the stick. The more spin on the puck, the easier it is for the puck to travel through the air, creating a harder shot. Potential into kinetic.

The loft, or height of the shot is directly affected by the curve of ones stick. It's impossible for it not to. The larger the curve, the more conducive to higher shot it is.

All this is relative however. The actual effect that the curve has is very minimal, especially with the skill set that NHLers posses.

Ok, so i didnt test it scientifically, but yes this all makes sense. When i say people misunderstand it, i mean they think curves have a huge effect on the shot, where you pointed out, it is very minimal, and probably unnoticable.

[06TJSport 0]

One problem with this idea is that sticks can be easily curved further after passing certification.

Not so much with the composite blades anymore.

Also anyone that thinks that all players should use wood sticks are crazy. There is no safety issue with the increased performance from composites. In baseball if pros hit with aluminum bats there is a distinct safety issue, but there is no such issue in hockey. The composite really only makes the wrist shot more powerful. I mean if they made such a difference then why hasn't anyone beat Al Iafrate's (sp?) record that he made with a wooden stick.

I hate a big curve myself, seems to make my shot flutter.