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Subject: interesting hockey article
Posted by: walk
- Leader [338441813] Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 14:04
Very interesting article in today's NY Times about the current state of NHL hockey. A roundtable discussion with Scott Stevens, Alexi Yashin and Bobby Holik (3 players on the 3 local teams in the NY Metro area) discussing the state of game. Go here
You may need to register, and if you do not want to, I can copy and paste the article here if requested.
- walk |
| 1 | bookie
ID: 448382418
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 14:26
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Paste it in please ;->
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| 2 | walk
Leader
ID: 338441813
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 14:49
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That's a lot to paste, bookie, but anything for thou:
****************
October 16, 2002
A Face-Off Between the Stars of the Communication Line
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
he National Hockey League opened its regular season last week with rules designed to speed up play and with safety netting at each end of the rink. The New York Times invited Bobby Holik of the Rangers, Scott Stevens of the Devils and Aleksei Yashin of the Islanders — to a roundtable discussion with reporters and editors. Following are excerpts from the hourlong conversation, which took place Monday.
Q. Fans seem to be responding pretty well to the new netting in arenas. What do the players think of it?
SCOTT STEVENS. For us, it's not a distraction. I think it's great. Especially warm-ups are a big concern — there are a lot of pucks flying around in warm-ups. And actually our wives' seats are close by. When your kids come you're worried because you know kids, they're not going to sit there and pay attention and follow the puck the whole game. They're kids. So I guess I feel a little relieved that that mesh is there.
Even sometimes in the game, I was thinking about that. You never know. The puck, especially off the goalie, tends to go in those corners. So that's definitely the most dangerous part of the rink, where the net is. And that's definitely going to help.
BOBBY HOLIK. Where I came from, every rink had a netting because it just kept it safe for the fans. In Europe, they've had it as long as I remember and nobody ever complained about it, because safety should always come first. I was almost surprised that it took as long as it did, because the last few years when the guys are shooting the puck a little harder than they have in the past, the stakes are a little higher. Not just the top players but everybody's got a good shot now.
It was a step in the right direction. It's a major change but for people, in the long run, they'll realize, I'm a lot safer behind the net and I can relax. I don't have to worry about the puck coming and hitting me or the kids or anybody else.
Q. There are a number of rules changes to speed up the games, especially those forcing quicker line changes and face-offs. Are these working?
STEVENS. I find there's not as much going on at the face-offs, where there used to be guys jawing or sticking each other. Now you're so focused on getting ready that you kind of forget all that nonsense. There's a lot of teams that would use talking to the refs — teams that didn't have as good a team or wanted to play certain players more — to slow the game down. So it's great. It's nice to have the game move at a faster pace. There's definitely enough time, with the commercials, to get a break. There was almost too much time before.
The game flows faster. The players are into the game more. And that's going to give us better quality hockey.The fans are going to see a faster-paced game, more exciting game. There's no question the games were getting slow and just dragging on the last few years. We really needed to do something.
Q. Some of these changes seemed to be influenced by the positive impression hockey made at the Olympics, with its fast-paced style of play. Do you think the N.H.L. will adapt more international rules? Should the league be thinking about larger rinks, and doing away with the red line at center ice?
STEVENS. The size of the rinks? I think it would be hard to do with the seating situation. They're trying to get more scoring and I'm not sure the new obstruction rules are going to help, because my feeling is a lot more of the play is in the corner now. The pucks are being put in the corner and it seems like there's going to be a lot more grinding in the corners instead of maybe more scoring and more playmaking at the blue line. My opinion is, make the rink a little wider. There just seems to be more room. More things happen.
Q. There seems to be a lot of skepticism among the players over the obstruction rules. Some players think the officials are going to stop calling these obstruction penalties midway through the season like they always seem to do. Do you agree?
STEVENS. We think they're going to stick with it. And I hope they do because we just want consistency as players. And we don't want to have things change when it comes to the playoffs.
Q. What do you think, Aleksei?
YASHIN. It's kind of hard for referees, too. It's not because they don't want to make a call. It's just sometimes they didn't see, they were not in the right position, because the game is so fast and a lot of things happen. We want to see consistency through the season. And hopefully it will help out. And I can see a lot of teams have started to play more carefully.
Q. There has appeared for years to be a different standard during the playoffs than during the regular season. Why should we expect that there will still be this consistency during the playoffs this season?
STEVENS. Well, over the years those rules started really sliding after Christmas. And when you go towards the playoffs they were back to normal. You pretty much knew where you were and how it was going to be called. So we'll see how consistent they are and if they carry on right through, past Christmas and bring it right up to the playoffs.
Q. Is your mind-set different during the playoffs? Do you assume you can get away with more things on the ice?
YASHIN. I think it used to be. But my opinion is, if it's a penalty it should be called. It doesn't matter if it's the playoffs or the last minute of a game or the most important game of a season, it should be called. And it's what will make a game faster and better and create more scoring chances.
STEVENS. Certain teams do different things to slow the game down. Like I said before, sometimes a team has maybe got some injuries or relies on certain players and they want to slow the game down, so there's all this stuff after the whistle. And that's going to change. This hurry up face-off and the line changes, that's going to definitely help.
Q. It also seems like the rules pretty much are thrown out in a close game in the last 5 or 10 minutes. Do your coaches tell you to be more physical because the officials will not call penalties?
STEVENS. No, they never advise that. I just think that's happened in the past. That's probably where it all starts, where the rules start slipping. But we hope it's going to be called right from the first minute to the last minute the same way. And it's still early in the year, but when you get in those situations it shouldn't be just a free-for-all, it should be the same rules and consistent.
Q. There has been a trend over the years in hockey that bigger is better. With these changes, will smaller players have a better chance?
STEVENS. It should definitely help them. You grab a little guy that weighs 170 or something with your stick, you can slow him down or take him off his stride or lose a puck, so they'll definitely have a little more room and be able to be more creative and use their speed.
Q. Are you all satisfied with the popularity of the game right now, especially in the United States? Are you sometimes frustrated when you look around in the first round of the playoffs at the Continental Arena and not every seat is filled?
STEVENS. I guess sometimes that motivates you, though. But you know we've had some pretty good hockey teams in New Jersey over the years — exciting teams to watch — so you kind of wonder why people aren't coming to see an exciting team and a good team.
I think it's gotten a little better, I really do. Some of the younger kids, you had to get to them when they're young, because there were so many Ranger fans. There still are a lot of Ranger fans and they'll say, `Geez, I like you as a player. I like your team, but, you know, I'm a Ranger fan.' I hear that every day.
Q. Does hockey have an image problem in this country? There are people who don't think hockey is a major sport. Do you think that's true?
HOLIK. It's only true with people who are ignorant of the game. They didn't get a chance to learn. You know, through my first 10 years in the area, I met so many people who were turned on by going to a game and saying, `Wow, what a great game.' People don't give themselves enough chances to get to know the game. You will not get to know the game on TV. You've got to go to the game. You've got to sit down and actually realize how fast, how physical, how much skill most of the players have. But people don't give themselves a chance.
Q. Some people think that that the Olympic game, played on a bigger ice surface where there's more skating, more stick handling, more room to maneuver, is a more exciting game than the N.H.L. game. What do you think?
STEVENS. If the rink's too big you're going to lose some of the physical part, which is very important. People like to see hits; that's a big part of the game also. Not just the skating around and making pretty plays.
Q. Is part of the problem that the players have gotten so big?
HOLIK. It's not necessarily the size. They are definitely bigger. But it's the mobility. If you don't know how to skate, you cannot play in the National Hockey League. Twenty years ago, there were players who were bad skaters but because of positioning or their toughness or meanness or their tricks they could play. But nowadays even the last guy on the depth chart is a good skater.
And as for the Olympics, most people probably watched the last three or four games, where you have basically six all-star teams. That's the best players in the world.
Q. Aleksei, you're sitting next to two guys who like to hit. How do you feel about making the N.H.L. more like the Olympics?
YASHIN. I agree with both of them, but most important, it's what Bobby said — if you take the top six teams in the Olympics, they all have a bunch of talent and from the financial point you can't have a team like that in the National Hockey League.
I don't think it's really about the rules or big ice or quick face-offs, which is good and going to develop the game. It's more important how to get the best talent and best product on the ice.
Q. Is nationalism still a big part of hockey or has globalization changed the N.H.L.?
HOLIK. Over the years the North American players became more tolerant of the players coming from Europe, especially from Eastern Europe. We heard our share of insults, at least I did coming here in the early 90's. And that has gone away. The North Americans or Canadians realize that they're not going to stop us from coming here. And it's as good for them as it is good for us. Because we're all competing in the best hockey league in the world. So it's benefiting all of us. But I think that's so different from 12, 13 years ago when I first started.
STEVENS. Yeah, there's no question I want to play against the best people. And the fans want to see the best people in the world playing in the National Hockey League. So it's great for hockey.
YASHIN. I think the best hockey player wins the job. And it doesn't matter if he's from Europe or from Canada or from United States or from anywhere else. If he's good enough to play in National Hockey League he will, because teams want to compete for Stanley Cup. From this perspective the game and situation has changed in the last 10 years when I came in the league.
But I don't think it's really about European players, it's about the style. Because in Europe we play different style. There is bigger ice, not as much contact, not as much forecheck. And so it was a different game.
But I've been here for nine years now, so I don't even know which style I'm playing. It's all merged now, European style and North American. Look at [Wayne] Gretzky or [Mario] Lemieux: they would be good enough in Europe, too, because they have all type of skills, and they're big stars here, too. I don't think it's really about where you're from, it's about if you're good enough, if you can do the job.
Q. There are more minority players in the N.H.L. than ever before. Do you think that they are going through the same things that the early European players endured, in terms of prejudice?
STEVENS. I don't think so. I don't think that's an issue anymore. And there's been strides made in that area.
HOLIK. Maybe on a very small scale. I don't think it was ever an issue in the N.H.L.
STEVENS. We've put a stop to that in the N.H.L., and that was important and everyone's accepted the same now. I mean everyone, like Aleksei said, we basically want the best players on the ice and it doesn't matter what your nationality or color is.
Q. Aleksei, are there times when you as a skater wish that you were playing in a league where you had a little more room to maneuver? Isn't it aggravating for a skater to have to deal with the style of the N.H.L.?
YASHIN. No, I love to play in National Hockey League, and since first game I played. Because it's a great game and fans just love it. And what happened in Long Island last year, they want to support the New York Islanders and they want to see us do well. It's very physical and of course you get frustrated sometimes when somebody is very close on your back. But it is a physical game and you have to be physical, too.
Q. If you had to pick one player in the league to be on your team, who would that player be?
HOLIK. I've said it before, I won't hide it, when I was with New Jersey I always thought having Scotty there was the key. There's no doubt about it. I'm not going to change my opinion just because I play for another team. We've had some great times and great success together. He was a major, major part of it.
Q. Scott?
STEVENS. Well, that's a tough question, but I mean Bobby's a unique player and it really hurt to see him leave, obviously. Bobby's a European player but he's very tough, strong physically and mentally, and he comes to play. And so definitely I miss him.
I guess it depends what my team would need at the time. Right now who would I like to play with? That's a good question. Well, with new rules maybe Mario, I guess. Power plays are so important and he's a great hockey player. He's still playing so maybe I'd want to play with him for those reasons. He would have had a great chance at some of the records Gretzky set if it wasn't for his health. For what we need right now for the new rules, it'd be fun to play with him.
Q. Could he trade himself?
HOLIK. He definitely wouldn't take a pay cut.
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| 3 | bookie
ID: 448382418
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 14:57
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Ouch, you didn't say it was that big.....
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| 4 | Samuli
ID: 3296416
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 15:03
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Yeah, bookie, I hear that a LOT.
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| 5 | bookie
ID: 448382418
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 15:10
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Nice....
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| 6 | Samuli
ID: 3296416
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 15:12
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Ehehe, nothing quite like a lame attempt of humour to ruin a potentially informative thread, don't you all agree?
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| 7 | Rick007
Sustainer
ID: 4710722
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 15:18
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Great article!
Thanks Walk
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| 8 | walk
Leader
ID: 338441813
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 15:32
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bookie, you are what we call in NYC, a schmuck. You ask me to paste it and then you say, nevermind. Aaaaaaargh.
;-)
walk
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| 9 | Greenbelt
ID: 42949167
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 15:47
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Well, I actually read it, and thanks to you SirWalk for bringing it in here! I was interested in the part about "There are a number of rules changes to speed up the games, especially those forcing quicker line changes and face-offs..." To which Stevens ( partially ) replied "The fans are going to see a faster-paced game, more exciting game...."
First of all, how do you speed-up electricity? Man! These are the issues that Baseball should adopt. Hockey already moves faster than any sport, IMO. But I like the changes and the quicker line changes help explain why my team's ( for example ) always stuck with the extra guy! And on the face-offs, our coach has increased the workouts to an hour and a half ( as opposed to CoachRon's deal of an hour and then video watching ). Bruce stress' more cardio-vascular working to get throught the season. No more counting on resting your hands on the knees waiting for the faceoff for a break. Thanks again, Walk! ;-}
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| 10 | Rogue's Strikers
ID: 18923158
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 15:49
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Was starting to wonder about halfway threw if Yashin and Holik were still at the table. ;)
"Alexei, what do you think about... Alexei? Bobby? Hello??" lol
Good article though, always cool to get the players perspective on things.
Those two minute interviews after a period with players don't count...
Reporter: "So Saku, now that you're back from cancer and have gotten your first point of the year, can you tell me what you think about the Rangers new locker rooms?"
Saku: "Ummm.... Its good to be back, and uhhhh, we're going to work hard to keep going good."
Reporter: "Thats good to hear. Now, about the Habs powerplay... do you think there's some room for improvement there?"
Saku: "Ummm.... Its good to be back, and uhhhh, we're going to work hard to keep going good."
Reporter: (loud sigh heard in the background) "Ok, thanks Saku." (mumble)
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| 11 | bookie
ID: 448382418
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 15:50
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that wasn't "never mind" that was, "if I had known it was that large, I would have just registered to read it" Don't you city folk speak hick.....
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| 12 | walk
Leader
ID: 338441813
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 15:56
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Us city folks are bastids, not schmucks. Well, that too!
;-)
Glad you enjoyed the article Greenbelt. NYTimes does these with each sport about once a year; I always find them more informative than the average interview a la Rogue's Strikers (which was a generous account of the lame exchange between reporter and professional athelete).
- walk
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| 13 | Greenbelt
ID: 42949167
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 16:14
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...which reminded me of that movie "Bull Durham," where "meat" was being told to write down the standard "replies" for interviews...
"I'd like to thank my old coach..." et al...
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| 14 | JayTDawg
ID: 37728420
Wed, Oct 16, 2002, 16:19
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funny how they chose a loudmouth like Stevens and two other guys whose first language isnt English
they probably had to poke alex with a stick to make him say anything
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