Difference between hockey in the 70's to now

[StuntMan12]

can you list what the differences are in the game of hockey from back then compared to now? thanks

[PenguinHunter]

70's grit and toughness vs now speed and skill.

[Rodgort]

Goalies were half the size in both height and pads.

Obstruction was allowed.

Wasn't smoking and drinking allowed during the games too? haha. So nutrition.

[Axeman33]

In the 70's, hockey was a mans game.

Today, it's a kids game.

[ericdaoust]

It's worth noting a team built on speed and skill won 6 cups that decade.

[lucafen4]

equipment size, no helmets, goalie style - butterfly vs. standup; number of fights; Don Cherry;

[StuntMan12]

would you guys say the game was faster then or now. because ive had some people tell me the game was faster in the 70's or are they out to lunch

[LawMan]

Along with all of those listed:

Defensive structure is emphasised much more now than it was in previous decades. At some point one coach figured it is easier to teach average skilled players how to limit offence chances and it worked so lots of other coaches followed suit.

[Instant Karma]

A helluva lot less clutter on the boards?

[Rodgort]

would you guys say the game was faster then or now. because ive had some people tell me the game was faster in the 70's or are they out to lunch

I bet it looked faster as it was more end to end rushes, and today is more structure vs structure used to slow down the games and certain players. I would guarantee players are much faster now same with the game itself

[LawMan]

I bet it looked faster as it was more end to end rushes, and today is more structure vs structure used to slow down the games and certain players. I would guarantee players are much faster now same with the game itself

Agree with this. The 70s (and 80s) was much more wide open, thus the puck often moved faster from coast to coast up and down the ice. Today, possession is king and the puck is often move slower, under control up the ice. However the average player today is a faster skater (with and without the puck) and can preform most skills faster than their counterparts from previous generations.

[Godin]

Now:
#1 Faster
#2 Bigger players
#3 More skill
#3 Hits are way more dangerous
#4 Way more parity
#5 Dumb air horns in arenas

Then:
#1 Fights were spontaneous not planned
#2 Most players were tough and less dirty
#3 More 8-0 type scores
#4 No Europeans
#5 Buildings had character

[MZac]

Most of the players had real jobs in the off season

[The Comish]

Now:
#1 Faster
#2 Bigger players
#3 More skill
#3 Hits are way more dangerous
#4 Way more parity
#5 Dumb air horns in arenas

Then:
#1 Fights were spontaneous not planned
#2 Most players were tough and less dirty
#3 More 8-0 type scores
#4 No Europeans
#5 Buildings had character

This is a great breakdown Godin! +1

[blackaces]

-Equipment ie. skates, gloves, sticks
-More north/south play in the 70's
-No cycle play in the 70's
-Center red line (70's)
-Broad Street Bullies (70's)
-70's Players smoked and drank before/during games ( so little emphasis on fitness )
-Expansion-
1970: The NHL expands to 14 teams by adding the Buffalo Sabres, owned by brothers Seymour Knox III and Northrup Knox, and the Vancouver Canucks, owned by Tom Scallen. Vancouver had been home to the Millionaires, which won the Stanley Cup in 1915, two years before the founding of the NHL.

1972: The New York metropolitan area gets a second NHL team and the South gets its first. The New York Islanders, based in the Long Island town of Uniondale, N.Y., join the NHL as do the Atlanta Flames, though the team moves to Calgary in 1980.

1974: The pattern of adding of two teams every two years continues when the Washington Capitals and Kansas City Scouts join the NHL. However, the Scouts play only two seasons in Kansas City before moving to Denver and being renamed the Colorado Rockies; in 1982, the franchise moves again and becomes the New Jersey Devils.

1978: Two years after the California Golden Seals move to Cleveland and are renamed the Barons, they merge with the North Stars. That reduces the number of teams in the NHL from 18 to 17. The North Stars move to Dallas in 1993 and are renamed the Stars.

1979: The NHL takes four teams from the World Hockey Association. The addition of the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets brings the NHL to 21 teams. The Nordiques move to Denver in 1995 and are renamed the Colorado Avalanche, the Jets move to Phoenix in 1996 and become the Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes, and the Whalers relocate in 1997 and are renamed the Carolina Hurricanes, based in Raleigh, N.C.

-Players were more identifiable because few wore helmets. Now we know them more so on-ice by their sweater #.

-Dynasties (70's)

-Goaltending: in the 70's goalies were just told to go get in the net and left on their own to hone their craft. Now young kids have specialized goalie coaches working with them