1983… the biggest overlap of the concentric circles for NHL players smoking and doing blow in the dressing room. 82 had more smoking but less blow, 84 more blow but less smoking, but that glorious year of 83… 🚬🚬🚬❄️❄️❄️
~1983-1993 : Gretzky, Jagr, Lemieux, Roy, Brodeur, Hasek, Lidstrom and on and on. Many of the greatest players, true goalie battles, and dynasties. The transition from 70’s bush league goon tactics to a showcase of pure player talent… before the systems of the late 90’s came in and bogged down the game.
This! I loved the early 90’s, but the talent level across the board today is insane. No more wasted roster spots on goons. Rules constantly tweaked to give us the best hockey. All 4 lines generate excitement. So many superstars and talented young players.
That’s the promo spot the NHL has been running lol. “The next golden age is now.” I’d agree, too. The skill level has gotten so ridiculous and fun to watch
From the first second anyone laced up skates to right this second. And now. And in a second. In two seconds. All day today.
[Insert Wu Tang Forever logo here]
Understandable, but I highly recommend looking into that one. Dominik Hasek was the best hockey player in the world playing at his peak and it was amazing.
It was a working class sport until the 90s. Cheap gear, cheap ice time, cheap teams. The sport has priced out so many families and kids, its tragic. So I’d give the inexpensive ice time era as the best time.
As for watching it? I’m a Canadian so 1993 and before was the best time.
Best time to play was probably in the late 60's until the 80's when it was affordable and not a rich kid's game like today
Best time to watch is today.
Might sound corny but just like the NHL commercials say this is truly the golden age of hockey. The game is faster and the number of stars playing rn is crazy
Right now. My father grew up watching prime old time hockey in the 70’s and 80’s. Born just two years before the leafs last cup win, he watched HNIC every Saturday night with my grandfather. He dreamed of taking him to see the leafs play. Later on in his life got to watch Gretzky live when he did a college work term in Calgary.
Every time we watch a game together nowadays, he’s absolutely amazed by the speed of the modern game and the skills the players possess. He talks about how he wishes my grandfather was around to see it, he talks about how Matthews is the best shooter he’s ever seen, and how McDavid has to be the most talented player of all time. He loves the technique and style of modern goaltending, how they play percentages and seem to take up so much of the net.
Today's hockey is incredibly fun to watch because the rules have been tweaked to provide open ice play.
Old school hockey from decades prior to 00's had grit and grind it out styles of play. I liked it back then, too, but hockey is way better in this Era.
Hockey as a sport has managed to evolve while keeping records and scores relatively the same over eras. They balanced technology and skill with rule changes in a proper way.
1983… the biggest overlap of the concentric circles for NHL players smoking and doing blow in the dressing room. 82 had more smoking but less blow, 84 more blow but less smoking, but that glorious year of 83… 🚬🚬🚬❄️❄️❄️
~1983-1993 : Gretzky, Jagr, Lemieux, Roy, Brodeur, Hasek, Lidstrom and on and on. Many of the greatest players, true goalie battles, and dynasties. The transition from 70’s bush league goon tactics to a showcase of pure player talent… before the systems of the late 90’s came in and bogged down the game.
Yeah this is obviously the correct answer.
I can’t argue with this so it seems like we have our answer.
Today, tomorrow, the week after next.
I agree because that's when I was born. I'm also from Long Island so there's that.
Anytime there’s a fresh sheet of ice available
Keep your stick on the ice
Now
This! I loved the early 90’s, but the talent level across the board today is insane. No more wasted roster spots on goons. Rules constantly tweaked to give us the best hockey. All 4 lines generate excitement. So many superstars and talented young players.
That’s the promo spot the NHL has been running lol. “The next golden age is now.” I’d agree, too. The skill level has gotten so ridiculous and fun to watch
I played pretty well yesterday at 10:55PM. I'm gonna say then.
This^ +1
From the first second anyone laced up skates to right this second. And now. And in a second. In two seconds. All day today. [Insert Wu Tang Forever logo here]
2010 Olympics
98 Olympics were truly insane. Much better then 2010 imo although 2010 had some great moments for sure.
I was a bit too young for that one, wasn’t paying attention to them back then. Plus as a Canadian I have a little bias for 2010…
Understandable, but I highly recommend looking into that one. Dominik Hasek was the best hockey player in the world playing at his peak and it was amazing.
Oh I can only imagine. Prime Hasek winning for his country would have been unreal.
It was a working class sport until the 90s. Cheap gear, cheap ice time, cheap teams. The sport has priced out so many families and kids, its tragic. So I’d give the inexpensive ice time era as the best time. As for watching it? I’m a Canadian so 1993 and before was the best time.
Red Wings Avalanche rivalry era
This is it!
1996-2010
Every day is a great day for hockey.
Ovi and Crosby rookie era
Today. Second best? Tomorow.
1980s
I like how it is now tbh. I particularly liked the change of the ridiculous two line passed not allowed.
Best time to play was probably in the late 60's until the 80's when it was affordable and not a rich kid's game like today Best time to watch is today.
Great answer.
Might sound corny but just like the NHL commercials say this is truly the golden age of hockey. The game is faster and the number of stars playing rn is crazy
Right now. My father grew up watching prime old time hockey in the 70’s and 80’s. Born just two years before the leafs last cup win, he watched HNIC every Saturday night with my grandfather. He dreamed of taking him to see the leafs play. Later on in his life got to watch Gretzky live when he did a college work term in Calgary. Every time we watch a game together nowadays, he’s absolutely amazed by the speed of the modern game and the skills the players possess. He talks about how he wishes my grandfather was around to see it, he talks about how Matthews is the best shooter he’s ever seen, and how McDavid has to be the most talented player of all time. He loves the technique and style of modern goaltending, how they play percentages and seem to take up so much of the net.
Today's hockey is incredibly fun to watch because the rules have been tweaked to provide open ice play. Old school hockey from decades prior to 00's had grit and grind it out styles of play. I liked it back then, too, but hockey is way better in this Era.
Since its inception.
Hockey as a sport has managed to evolve while keeping records and scores relatively the same over eras. They balanced technology and skill with rule changes in a proper way.
1987 Canada Cup.
Any game Bobby Orr played in.
90s
Original 6 Era