Paul Stewart: Crosby, Methot and the Problem with Today' Hockey Equipment

Well put.
It's all true.

100% agree with the Crosby slash, penalty worthy but people calling for a suspension are just ridiculous. I was much more infuriated with the nut tap Crosby gave to O'Reilly and didn't even get a look for it, something he has done in the past.

Really? So it's the equipment's fault a player gets injured? I suppose it's the car's fault for starting when a drunk gets behind the wheel too.

I agree with your assessment of the equipment. In fact I also believe it leads to more injuries because it is so much lighter that players can fly around a break-neck speeds and because of shoulder pads the hitter doesn't take as much damage. Dangerous combination.

However, while this play did not call for more then a minor penalty, lets just change the players involved and see if reactions are the same. Lets say Radko Gudas slashes Crosby and Crosby is injured. There would be just as much backlash for no harsh punishment, however you wouldn't have anyone telling people to calm down or blaming it on the equipment. There might even be articles about lack of respect or some such.

I think the NHL needs to start calling the penalties that are in their rule book. When Johnny Gaudreau's finger was broken by a slash from Eric Staal, that was the 17th slash to Gaudreau in that game ! None of which were called. Like hooking and holding a decade+ ago, slashes are not being called. They don't need to even make any changes to the rules, just call the penalties that are already there.

Really? So it's the equipment's fault a player gets injured? I suppose it's the car's fault for starting when a drunk gets behind the wheel too.
- powerenforcer

Poor reading comprehension skills. Players are responsible for their own actions. Equipment manufacturers are responsible for making equipment as protective as possible as well as more comfortable.

A better analogy: if a drunk gets behind the wheel, hits another car and the two cars' brakes and airbags had shoddy design, the drunk is still fully responsible for his actions but the car manufacturers share over-arching blame as well if injuries are worse than they would have been with safer vehicles.

I agree with your assessment of the equipment. In fact I also believe it leads to more injuries because it is so much lighter that players can fly around a break-neck speeds and because of shoulder pads the hitter doesn't take as much damage. Dangerous combination.

However, while this play did not call for more then a minor penalty, lets just change the players involved and see if reactions are the same. Lets say Radko Gudas slashes Crosby and Crosby is injured. There would be just as much backlash for no harsh punishment, however you wouldn't have anyone telling people to calm down or blaming it on the equipment. There might even be articles about lack of respect or some such.
- youarewrong

You're so right. Crosby never gets slashed.

What's your thoughts on Simmonds elbow to Dumolins face? I didn't see much of an uproar in Flyer land over that.

Poor reading comprehension skills. Players are responsible for their own actions. Equipment manufacturers are responsible for making equipment as protective as possible as well as more comfortable.

A better analogy: if a drunk gets behind the wheel, hits another car and the two cars' brakes and airbags had shoddy design, the drunk is still fully responsible for his actions but the car manufacturers share over-arching blame as well.
- Paul Stewart

Not poor reading comprehension skills. Your line "A big factor in Methot's injury: the construction of his gloves." So a slash does not cause injury, it is more a factor of the equipment.

Poor reading comprehension skills. Players are responsible for their own actions. Equipment manufacturers are responsible for making equipment as protective as possible as well as more comfortable.

A better analogy: if a drunk gets behind the wheel, hits another car and the two cars' brakes and airbags had shoddy design, the drunk is still fully responsible for his actions but the car manufacturers share over-arching blame as well if injuries are worse than they would have been with safer vehicles.
- Paul Stewart

gloves today are not poorly made. they're just not leather. that's what makes them lighter. the Warrior gloves that Methot used are actually quite a good glove. the slash he got would have done that damage regardless of material. and to call the manufacturers complicit is not fair either. the gear that NHL players wear is not retail equipment. it's totally made to the players specifications. you know this.

gloves today are not poorly made. they're just not leather. that's what makes them lighter. the Warrior gloves that Methot used are actually quite a good glove. the slash he got would have done that damage regardless of material. and to call the manufacturers complicit is not fair either. the gear that NHL players wear is not retail equipment. it's totally made to the players specifications. you know this.
- Fountain-San

The players' specifications are prioritize comfort above all else. You know this. Hence, why I referred to the supply and demand aspect. The equipment reps also peddle what their bosses want them to peddle -- and players, having grown up with said gear, stick with what they are comfortable with. You ought to know this.

The players' specifications are prioritize comfort above all else. You know this. Hence, why I referred to the supply and demand aspect. The equipment reps also peddle what their bosses want them to peddle -- and players, having grown up with said gear, stick with what they are comfortable with. You ought to know this.
- Paul Stewart

yeah. no. again the type of gear NHL guys wear is totally customized and not available retail. a rep may peddle what his boss wants to brick and mortar stores but he does not peddle what his boss wants to an NHL player in an NHL locker room. and i do know this.

The players' specifications are prioritize comfort above all else. You know this. Hence, why I referred to the supply and demand aspect. The equipment reps also peddle what their bosses want them to peddle -- and players, having grown up with said gear, stick with what they are comfortable with. You ought to know this.
- Paul Stewart

So I think you are arguing against yourself on this one. If the players get to specify their equipment and chose comfort over function then the fault would be the players not the equipment.

To use the car analogy its like someone got hit by a drunk driver but wasn't wearing his seatbelt out of comfort.

You're so right. Crosby never gets slashed.

What's your thoughts on Simmonds elbow to Dumolins face? I didn't see much of an uproar in Flyer land over that.
- madmike71

The "Cup" was made for comfort.

it's not Crosby's fault, his stick (ie: equipment), made him spear O'Reilly in the nuts! ...the poor construction of today's cup is to blame for O'Reilly!

The cuffs on gloves I agree with, but even then you can get a nice round cut. But the fingers, there is not a lot of difference.

This is today I see more and more stick work and hacks than before. Perhaps, if you slashes were called the players would you know, stop slashing. But, players from aaa on up are taught to hack and whack and other tricks to gain an edge.

But, then the weird slashes get called like barely hitting those weak sticks. Players spear more often than before and that is rarely called and shockingly sometimes called a minor which is not in the rulebook. Hell goalies swing their trappers to punch other players. The rules state just attempting is a game as is kicking and I recently saw a guy kick another player in the privates in front of the officials. So why are the officials being told to put the whistles away?

As for Crosby that guy gets slashed a thousand times a game and one can hardly blame him for doing so in kind.

This could have been solved so easily after the game.

Crosby slashes Methot. No penalty. Happens all the time.
The slash causes bleeding/injury which usually warrants a double-minor or a major + game misconduct but neither were called. What's the difference when a high-stick causes bleeding?

Why not give Crosby a 1 game suspension since the call was clearly missed?

The "Cup" was made for comfort.
- youarewrong

Not designed to protect the gooch or getting pegged from behind

The cuffs on gloves I agree with, but even then you can get a nice round cut. But the fingers, there is not a lot of difference.

This is today I see more and more stick work and hacks than before. Perhaps, if you slashes were called the players would you know, stop slashing. But, players from aaa on up are taught to hack and whack and other tricks to gain an edge.

But, then the weird slashes get called like barely hitting those weak sticks. Players spear more often than before and that is rarely called and shockingly sometimes called a minor which is not in the rulebook. Hell goalies swing their trappers to punch other players. The rules state just attempting is a game as is kicking and I recently saw a guy kick another player in the privates in front of the officials. So why are the officials being told to put the whistles away?

As for Crosby that guy gets slashed a thousand times a game and one can hardly blame him for doing so in kind.
- BluemanGuruu

exactly

Comfort > Protection

Comfort > Protection




- 51_Killer

having the palms of gloves intact offers no more protection than cutting them out.

The "Cup" was made for comfort.
- youarewrong

Crosby told O'Reilly he was going for his stick... O'Reilly should have punched him in the face and told him he was going to shake his hand.

having the palms of gloves intact offers no more protection than cutting them out.
- Fountain-San

You're saying the leather palms don't protect you from cuts or getting your hand stepped on? I like my chances with the leather vs nothing there at all.

Ever have a stick shatter and the fibers splinter everywhere? Or even a small nick in the stick shaft? I'd rather not get fiberglass splinters, but if you say so.

The first time I saw those 'micro' gloves all I could think was what is going to protect their wrists?

I agree with the poster who said they need to start calling all those hand slashes.

You're saying the leather palms don't protect you from cuts or getting your hand stepped on? I like my chances with the leather vs nothing there at all.

Ever have a stick shatter and the fibers splinter everywhere? Or even a small nick in the stick shaft? I'd rather not get fiberglass splinters, but if you say so.
- 51_Killer

definitely.

but guys play with ragged or cut out palms all the time. and most are not leather at all anymore. i was more talking about protection from impacts. and getting stepped on?

also the composite sticks that are used nowadays don't one, have fiberglass on them and two, don't splinter like that. they just break in two.