Is it me or is there a surge of undersized yet highly skilled players now entering the league? I mean, the nineties were all clutch and grab, mauling the skill right out of the game, and now it seems that teams are realizing that perhaps more goals could occur if you begin to include smaller yet dynamic players able to move in tight and avoid being edged out of prime scoring areas. Guys that can drive possession and create threats out of nothing.
I can see, perhaps in 5-10 years, scoring going on a massive upswing, the likes of which have been dormant since the giants took over what was already a cramped ice surface.
Another thing I want to mention is that the game is far too generalized as compared to days gone by. I remember when rinks didn't have standardized ice surfaces, when away games were actually a huge disadvantage. It's funny, the dissatisfaction I have with the homogenized state of the current NHL, is pretty much the same way I feel about the EA Sports NHL video game title.
The only real differences between teams now are jerseys, and the names crafted upon them. Too realistic is boring. Too much parody is a detriment, especially when it comes to templating each franchise from a single boring model. I hope we can somehow add some arcade-like colour back into our current NHL experiences.
