Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohashi_Jouzu
One of the best parts of Gretzky's game was understanding the physicality, and developing the elusiveness and awareness required to be that productive despite being the target, physically, of every opposing player. That involves knowing who is on the ice, where you are on the ice, and how little time you have to move the puck against top players.
Evolution and adaptation has always worked through culling of the "unfit" in the herd. In hockey, those who can't keep their heads up or handle the physicality inevitably get eliminated from the gene pool. This isn't recreational hockey, it's a development step for the best juniors in the world on their way to professional hockey (which, for the best among them looking to play on the biggest and most lucrative world stage, means the NHL). Asking them to give less than 100% on every play is asking them to commit career suicide, and those who can't handle facing teams of players giving 100% should be exposed by the time they hit this level.
Hockey isn't as legendary as it is because of the kind of fire wagon 9-7 hockey that we see at all-star games. It's because of the respect earned by the greats who survive the physicality long enough to establish highly productive and successful careers. The Sakics/Yzermans/Messiers get more respect (and have more "appeal") as a result than, say, "higher" talents who didn't survive, such as Kariya and Lindros. Without the element of "survival", hockey is just a less-understood sport that might be lucky to rival field hockey in terms of global interest and fan base "passion".
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Really solid post, kudos.