A Look at How the Game of Hockey Has Evolved in the NHL

Hey all and here's a history video for your viewing pleasure. Well, I hope you enjoy watching this anyway or I need to try again.
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[@PFB1994]

Gordie Howe was on Johnny Carson (I think) and he was asked why he wore a cup and didn't wear a helmet. He said, 'I can always pay someone to do my thinking for me'.

[@pinkoandthebrain5719]

That's really interesting at 1:50 -- I've never heard someone list expansion and talent dilution as factors in the rise of enforcers, but it makes perfect sense. Adding teams not only increased the number of total roster spots in the NHL, but also introduced several franchises who couldn't possibly compete with the older teams in terms of skill. So it makes sense that the new organizations would try to corner the market on qualities other than skill, an approach that helped Philadelphia become the first expansion team to win a cup.

[@Rockhound6165]

People point to the Flyers becoming the Bullies but what most don't remember is that it was the play of the Blues and more specifically the Plager brothers who used to terrorize the Flyers that created the Broad Street Bullies. After one particular game Ed Snider and Keith Allen vowed that the Flyers would never get intimidated again and instead became the intimidators. Then they hired the perfect coach in Fred Shero who's philosophy was "take the shortest route to the puck and arrive in ill humor". It worked.

[@jacobdill4499]

You say the Plager brothers but it was probably mostly Bobby.

[@chrisguardiano6143]

As a basketball fan in addition to hockey, it is interesting to me how both the NBA & NHL have evolved in pretty much the same way (especially when it comes to expansion & overseas players) with some notable differences. One such difference was the introduction of the 3 point line in 1979 which made the NBA a much more offensive game than it was before that as it was much more physical. Another difference was that the NBA was much slower than the NHL (in fact slower than MLB or NFL) to have live games on TV. As late as 1983, NBA Finals games were being shown on tape delay. Also NBA players were not superstars that they are today as the NBA was seen as the 3rd major sport (and in some areas) 4th major sport in the US. It wasn't until Magic & Larry Bird came in that the NBA started to gain serious popularity not only in the US but globally with Michael Jordan really accelerating that trend. Now as a result, the rest of the world has caught up to the US in terms of skill & talent with even Canada starting to beat the US in basketball.

[@jonathanegrie3337]

Great video Shannon. The Mike Milbury incident had nothing to do with dirty play on the ice by the players. It had to do with a fan at Madison Square Garden, a Ranger fan, throwing a bottle at one of the Bruin players at the end of the game. The Bruin players took exception and jumped into the stands and "taught" those fans a lesson. Literally.

[@jimmcdiarmid7308]

J C Tremblay should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame

[@pinkoandthebrain5719]

100%. Carl Brewer and Pat Stapleton, too.

[@lavk2777]

I’d be curious to know the evolution of the equipment used! Skate blades, pads, sticks, etc, and how they’ve changed over the years (and why!). Thanks again for some great content Shannon!!

[@clydeblair9622]

You never took a breath. Maybe the most comprehensive, thorough and fair episode ever.

[@john316fun]

I think this is my favorite so far, and I've seen most of his videos, it is so educational.

[@kingkrimson8771]

I miss the old Torts. His feuds with Brooksie in New York were great.

[@mokgable]

When I was young we were taught the mouth guards protect against concussions. We had to wear full cages so it wasn't like the puck could hit our teeth anyway, but I would always wear one for the concussion reason alone (i had a few concussions growing up as a defenseman).

[@Bertza00]

That is the main reason to use them, you can still loose teeth even if you use mouth guards.

[@renlessard]

Glad you mentioned coaching! We should really credit Harry Sinden more for letting Bobby Orr be Bobby Orr. Older coaches might have stifled him

[@floxy20]

I thought Don Cherry was the coach.

[@renlessard]

@@floxy20 not until Orr’s last year in Boston

[@geneparadiso6258]

I long for the glory days of hockey from the 60’s through the 70’s.

[@floxy20]

When Ken Dryden was asked when the Golden Age of hockey was, he said "when you were 12 years old".

[@hanslamontagne]

Solid video! Loved all the obscure stats and you did a great job breaking down the progression of the league on multiple levels 👏

[@Bum_Hip]

In regards to mouth guards, they do offer limited protection for their teeth, but they are also there to help with concussions. I don’t know the science behind it, but I believe that is a big part of why they wear them.

[@paulalexander8874]

I remember being knocked out and chipping my tooth… We had just scored and I took my guard out to celebrate. Jumped on my teammate and was head butted out cold by another teammate! Worth it though 😂

[@steamr0ll]

I really like this kind of dive into hockey history. Top tier hockey videos all summer from THG just help fire me up for 23-24. Thank you Shannon!

[@Imsorryman]

My favorite advancement for the game came in the year of 1999 when Wayne Gretzky retired and the puck was lifted for the first time by Nick Lidstrom on a cold winter day. Legendary.

[@kingkrimson8771]

"puck was lifted" LOL

[@Imsorryman]

@@kingkrimson8771 What's funny? I thought every hockey fan knew that the game wasn't advanced enough for the puck to be lifted until after Wayne Gretzky retired.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

Fun fact: Joe Thornton is the last active player who had played against Gretzky. He happened to score the GWG late in the third for Boston in that game.

[@connyjohnson855]

Very interesting and entertaining, thank you! I realize I get most of my hockey news/info from you Shannon. Keep up the good work 🏒👍

[@JPMadden]

Outstanding video. My hockey memories go back to 1981-82, the year Gretzky broke Phil Esposito's record for goals in a season. Looking back, it was ridiculous that 16 of 21 teams made the playoffs (I wonder if having an odd number of teams caused making the schedule more difficult, especially without computers). Some dreadful teams made the playoffs, like the 1987-88 Leafs (21-49-10 for 52 points). My father used to talk about Tom Williams from Duluth, Minnesota. He played for Boston from 1961 to 1968. For most of that time he was the only American-born player in the NHL. The first European-born was Ulf Sterner, who played just 4 games in 1965. I don't know who the first full-time European player was, but the first star was Borje Salming, starting in 1973. The rule prohibiting two-line passes existed from 1943 to 2005. It seems counterintuitive that the NHL developed more of a "north-south" than "east-west" style of play. I wish the NHL would widen their rinks to 100 feet or 30 meters. My father (born 1937) surprisingly was strongly in favor of this. He actually got to talk to Harry Sinden about this and was disgusted that Sinden was opposed. I did not know that mouthguards are not mandatory. Can't say I'm surprised. I have wondered why Matthew Tkachuk hasn't gotten in trouble.

[@kingsfan2099]

This is awesone content. Thank you for sharing the history.

[@skeletor9121]

Don’t forget the game changed tremendously after the league allowed the 2 line pass which opened up the game.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Yes, but this video isn't about rule changes.

[@dshockeybreaks]

Thg, you’re on fire this week with the great videos!

[@john316fun]

This was very informative. Thanks Shannon for the history lesson, I needed this. I will be referring back to this video many times.

[@markastoforoff7838]

I remember when I was a kid when I first started watching hockey, my brother had bought a book about the upcoming season. I remember an article in it about the rise of US born players, the year before there were single digit players that were American and that year they doubled the amount of US born players. I think they went from 8 players to 16 players. It was a yearbook but in the size and shape of a novel, it may have been released by The Hockey News but not sure. It was from 1977 I think.

[@johndangelo4647]

Thank you Dr. THG, great lecture, I really enjoyed the deep dive into hockey evolution. Your reference to the John Scott All Star Game incident was worthwhile to show the arrogance of the league leadership at the time and a pretty funny story in the end (sort of). Every player now, weather they know it or not owes bit of thanks to the great Ted Lindsey for the control they have over their own careers now, with the creation of the NHLPA.

[@HolyPire]

That groin comment! Makes me remember that famous Simpson Episode... 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jpinad20]

Thank you for this video, it was very interesting to learn all of this. Thanks Hockey Guy!

[@MikeS29]

I was born in 1962 and remember every one of these developments, with the exception of the 1967 "second six" expansion. When I first started watching hockey (late '60s) there were already 12 teams. But my local sporting goods store still sold straight sticks! In fact, I bought my brother a stick for christmas and it was one of those new-fangled curved stick, a left curve, so he turned it around from his normal right shot and ever since shoots left. He even golfs lefty. Anyway, I do believe there is more than enough global talent to support 40 teams right now. The idea that the talent pool is diluted, while popular, is inaccurate. More people than ever before are playing hockey. It will only increase.

[@ronpeacock9939]

I remember hearing an interview with a few of the players from the summit series… how he described it… prior to that time.. The stars created… everything was pretty much ad hoc… The russians came over, and they had designed plays and a puck control/passing game setting up for the perfect shot… Suddenly that ad-hoc of the gifted players had an issue. Also a big difference.. Goalies play differently today.. masks mean they are less afraid to get their head in the way.. on top of that, shooters no longer keep the shots low because hey didnt’ want to remove a goalies eyes… shooters of today are way more accurate with their shots too. That change-over period from ad-hoc to designed plays is when goon-hockey started as teams used that to disrupt the set play… while the stars still played a bit of the older ad-hoc style.. Slapshot (the movie) you see them play an ad-hoc style before moving to the goon play… Bobby Orr probably would have been benched in today’s game.. D-men are expected to play much more D… and only on occaision get down low… back then.. he was allowed to create.. the defensive side was not as worried about.

[@cndngal27]

I referred to Matthew Tchauck as "mouthguard" all through the playoffs, that made me lol.

[@inDefEE]

Hey Shannon I enjoyed the video. One quick criticism… I’d say this was more of a history of league expansions and a general review of how different countries got added over time. Not necessarily an evolution of the game itself. Would love a video going in depth on the different styles of hockey we’ve seen, how they’ve played out, and how they changed.

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Shannon’s history of hockey, the NHL version. This is golden.

[@yogibearstie]

As a boy in the 80s we learned the Herb Brooks pass and follow zig zag up the ice. I don’t see it anymore.

[@revgregory]

Need to add a country to the list of those with one player in the NHL, you missed Zemgus Girgensons aka "The Latvian Locomotive".

[@mattskionet]

The evolution of the equipment is a big factor in how the game has changed. And also, culturally, kids are exposed to intense programs from a young age which was unusual in the old days.

[@ripapa6355]

Love this. One of your best IMO.

[@larrysclassicsports]

Orginal 6 was almost all US team, 4 to 2. Almost all the Player were from Canada.

[@mariosportsmaster7662]

You forgot to put Kazakhstan in the all-time players section. Kazakhstan gave us Nik Antropov, he even played for team Kazakhstan in international play.

[@toxickitten6958]

when is the exam on this topic and, will it be graded on a curve? lol, love the vid!

[@tomkelley4119]

Don’t know that I agree with your point about not trading feuding players. The Mike Hoffman/Erik Karrelson (spelling?) situation in Ottawa is a pretty good counterpoint, as well as Columbus/du Bois (I think?) where you have player/player feuds and player/org feuds. Maybe there are fewer of those incidents now, but they still happen.

[@richardferguson6893]

He wasn't talking so much about feuding players as he was talking about how the owners used to be able to do what they wanted in terms of punishing players. That wouldn't happen nowadays as the pendulum has swung the way of the players having a lot more power than they used to.

[@michaelgnit8476]

Good historical perspective. Nice job.

[@DazzleQuality]

Great video

[@jens-olenielsen4485]

You forgot til Danish player’s in the column “start of the 22-34 season”, Andersen, Eller, Ehlers, Bjørkstrand and maybe Søgaard, not sure about Søgaard

[@redvsblueftw]

Glad you mentioned helmets. It's entirely possible Joe Pavelski would have played his last game in 2019 if he wasn't wearing a helmet.

[@nClout_]

im not old enough to speak on the no helmet era but man do i miss the helmets without the visors ik why its required now but theres just something about a player wearing no visor that was super cool to me as a kid

[@shaman9]

There are currently as many NHL hockey players from Australia as Norway? Would have missed that on trivia night.

[@robertpaul6070]

In Russia forward and defense match lines not broken like in NHL

[@lewthrasher4194]

When insurance doesn't cover them for not wearing protection they'll start

[@toriamansfield2999]

I'm surprised that there aren't more players from Norway. How odd.

[@arcadeshift5071]

Mountainous country vs relatively flat countries with lots of lakes/ponds (Sweden and Finland). Montana, Idaho, and Colorado all have snowy winters but don't have a ton of hockey players, unlike other flatter states with cold climates.

[@flyingtiger1603]

I think it would be hilarious calling Europeans soft now. I mean seriously imagine someone telling Chara he’s too soft.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

*Don Cherry has entered the chat for the good ol' Ontarya boys.*

[@jnsl1982]

Compared to the population Sweden and Finland are not far behind Canada when it comes to representation in the NHL, Sweden has 0,00064% of the population and Finland 0,00059% compared to Canadas 0,00074%. Not far behind but I'd say that hockey is a bigger sport in these areas compared to the others and I wouldn't expect a huge increase in players from Sweden or Finland in the future, there's just too few of us. One country that really stands out is Russia which considering the size is hugely underrepresented in the NHL, only 0,00003%. I'd guess "emerging" hockey markets like Germany and Switzerland will take a larger slice of the pie.

[@MM-qi5mk]

13:00 my argument is just let them be man and let them choose what they want to wear

[@patch8376]

Trade the All-Star Game for the Fan Favorites Game.

[@mikemallimo9286]

Did you say Australia??

[@AUSince2013]

Original 6 most of whom were Canadian? Only 2/6 were Canadian, did you mean the players?

[@rafaeluryayev7174]

Spoiler alert: THG really gives away his age here.

[@Ramuh.]

What is the team in the thumbnail other than the Canadiens?

[@fool117]

I believe it’s the Soviet Union red army team

[@ronfroehlich4697]

Are you kidding?

[@grahamdamberger7130]

Soviet Red Army team from the 1976 Canada Cup.

[@ronfroehlich4697]

@@grahamdamberger7130 Canada Cup was an international tournament. The Red Army team used to play exhibition games against NHL teams.

[@JeffKing310]

@@grahamdamberger7130 It's from the 1975 New Years Eve game - Red Army vs Canadiens

[@robnevitt7593]

Interesting how the number of Canadians in the NHL continues to decrease

[@kigasixtyfive]

Hiii

[@yogibearstie]

I think the super stiff skates have allowed much taller and heavier players. Before you had to balance yourself and leverage worked against the big players.

[@joedimaggio3687]

I'm surprised that the tremendous decline of fighting was not mentioned with the evolution of the game.

[@edcaskinett8541]

I think having a dominant Canadian representation. Amongst the NHL players is a good thing for the game period I'm United States boand I think hockey is for everybody but Canada just has a different kind of love for the game.

[@jimmiller6704]

"he ended up being fired a lot more than I thought was justified". Most ideas that become mainsteam are those that are laughed at in the beginning., the end game here is not laughing rather firing by a GM. which is sort of the same thing. It's hard not to laugh at a person with an out of the box idea and I try not to because it's embarrasing for them but know I do at times. I don't want you to laugh when I suggest you take a look at how some of the coaches look and coach during a game in some way. That doesn't seem to be done by other you tubers like yourself, don't know where you'd start with it, I've suggested something like this before try not to laugh at the idea.

[@richcerasale8909]

i see the nhl adding 2 more teams by 2029

[@kingsfan2099]

That dead puck, left wing lock, clutching and grabbing era of the 90s was so lame. Competitive games for sure and an era of highlight goaltenders but it sure is nice to see guys be able to skate and not get absolutely mugged through center ice.

[@alexanderreschny5938]

No sound for me

[@CurriedBat]

Hockey has evolved... Canadians were the best... and now... they're still the best.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

No other sport goes on and on about the original teams, probably because it's stupid.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Yeah, knowing history sucks.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

@@TheHockeyGuy That really wasn't my point. This was an interesting video. But here where I am, I have to hear about it all the time. The Cubs don't go on and on about how they're an original 12 team and the Bears and Bulls don't either. And the fact that the word original isn't even true is just dumb. My complaint isn't really with you, as I said, this was a good video. But when I hear original six I think so what.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

@@TheHockeyGuy Didn't Montreal at one time have dibs on players from Ontario or something like that? How were they able to get away with that, and how did that nonsense end? Thanks for your reply and have a great day.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

There was a 25 year period where there were just six teams. When expansion happened in 1967, there were fans who really didn't want to see the league double and some within the NHL felt that way too. The one division having all of the "original" six in it likely played a role in that terminology taking hold. You had an expansion division and an original division. Other leagues still have terminology which is unique to them and that's the case with the NHL and its "Original six" era. They sell merch with that term on it which must sell pretty well because they've sold that merch for decades. The original six teams are all nearing, at or over a century old. I can't bring myself to say "so what?" about that.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

All of the six teams had first dibs on local players. Montreal had first dibs on Francophone players. They had an allowance at the draft to get an extra pick at one point, but it didn't really affect the franchise as they didn't use it to a great advantage. Montreal was a well run organization who also benefitted from the fact many of the best players in the game were born in Quebec.

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

This is how the NHL expanded, not how hockey evolved. I thought you were going to talk about the way the game was played and skill vs physical. For example, most people don't know much about hockey during the 60's and prior before Orr/Esposito.

[@Lazzar1958]

Title is; "How the Game of Hockey Has Evolved in the NHL"

[@adriennepelletier9934]

Insert Don Cherry as example of maladjustment to change. Yes I know people love him but the guy still hasn’t adjusted to Europeans playing in the 2010s.

[@daydaviddunn]

Canada loses place at the top..no Take a quote from Gretzky Just no Japan won baseball No longer great american pastime....just no incorrect

[@gocanuckurself1]

This is great stuff. Very good video.

[@Lazzar1958]

I began watching the NHL on B&W TV & evolved to the Internet. 🏒 I will NEVER forget the1972 Summit Series with the winning goal broadcasted over my school's PA system!