New Acquisitions Thread.

[Peter_Spaeth]

His career was very short by NHL standards (why is it by the way SO many of these guys last 20 years or more in such a rough sport?), and to me his stats don't look so great, did he make the Hall of Fame for what he might have accomplished as distinct from what he did?

Fun article btw. I remember Lindros getting into it with the great Russian coach Tikhonov.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-...080-story.html

[irv]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

His career was very short by NHL standards (why is it by the way SO many of these guys last 20 years or more in such a rough sport?), and to me his stats don't look so great, did he make the Hall of Fame for what he might have accomplished as distinct from what he did?

Fun article btw. I remember Lindros getting into it with the great Russian coach Tikhonov.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-...080-story.html

Like many ball players, you are going to have those that people think aren't deserving of the hall and just as many others that think they are.

Lindros has decent numbers, likely better than some in the hall who maybe had longer careers, but, imo, he deserves to be in for what he did/accomplished in such a short period in such a different style of game compared to today's game.

"Lindros, the first player selected in the 1991 NHL Draft, was dominant when healthy during his eight seasons with the Flyers, totaling 659 points (290 goals, 369 assists) in 486 regular-season games from 1992-93 through 1999-2000. He had 56 points in 50 Stanley Cup Playoff games and helped the Flyers reach the Final in 1997.

He was named to the League's All-Rookie Team in 1992-93 and won the Hart Trophy in the lockout-shortened 1994-1995 season, when he had 70 points in 46 games. The following season he had an NHL career-high 115 points in 73 games"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-oKfMuqLf0

[Peter_Spaeth]

Thanks Dale. Now, I would love your take on why so many players with such incredible longevity? Joe Thornton obviously is an outlier at 26 years or whatever it is, but it seems 20 is not all that unusual whereas it would be in other sports.

[irv]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Thanks Dale. Now, I would love your take on why so many players with such incredible longevity? Joe Thornton obviously is an outlier at 26 years or whatever it is, but it seems 20 is not all that unusual whereas it would be in other sports.

Peter, I wish I had the answers for you but I honestly don't think there any that are conclusive?

Some guys are china dolls compared to others and some guys like to hit and pound and other's want no part of that if they can help it.

Size, training, conditioning, shape all come into play as well, but I also think some get hurt more and have shorter careers because, like Lindros, they don't keep their heads up, or they get into those dirty/tough spots where other players won't.

If you've ever watched William Nylander, (Leaf's) he'll completely give up on the puck if he knows he is going to be hit. Others will do what they have to do or need to do despite knowing a hit is coming. It goes on and on. Some are fluke reasons why some of their careers are short and some are the results of their actions.

I think of Aaron Ekblad this year. He was having a career year and was looking forward to the playoffs but a fluke/freak accident ended all that in a heartbeat with a broken leg.
Will Aaron come back from that and be the player he was prior? Likely, but there's a chance he won't and might he be a little more gun shy now, a little slower, maybe? Will this eventually catch up to him, (the injury) as he gets older and possibly shorten his career?

It goes on and on Peter. Some are fluke career ending injuries and some never get injured, or get injured enough to ruin their careers.
https://www.thesportster.com/hockey/...vere-injuries/

[Peter_Spaeth]

double post

[Peter_Spaeth]

https://records.nhl.com/records/skat...s/most-seasons

99 players with 19 or more seasons.

[irv]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

https://records.nhl.com/records/skat...s/most-seasons

99 players with 19 or more seasons.

And in my opinion that number will only increase going forward due to the nature of today's game.

The first 2 on your list made me chuckle. Gretzky was likely the most protected player ever during his career, and the other, well, not many fooled, or dared fooled with Gordie.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by irv

And in my opinion that number will only increase going forward due to the nature of today's game.

The first 2 on your list made me chuckle. Gretzky was likely the most protected player ever during his career, and the other, well, not many fooled, or dared fooled with Gordie.

I think the overall explanation has to have something to do with the balance between skill level and physical decline, such that the great hockey players more often remain valuable to teams into their 40s because of their skill and experience, whereas that typically doesn't happen in the other sports?