News and Blog Report: 2/1/11 Do you believe the ice at Rexall is an issue?

[RinkRatOil]

Originally Posted by Wheatking

I don't know why the puck bouncing is being down played in this thread. The puck bounces a lot more than it ever used to. It bounces more at Rexall than it does in some other buildings. A couple weeks ago Gagner went face first into the boards because he caught a rut. Whitney's out for the rest of the season because he caught a rut.

...and I don't see how skating on Rexall's ice makes you qualified to say it's the best ice in the NHL. Have you skated on the other 29 team's ice? For the 3rd time....I never said the ice in Edmonton was bad.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sport...913/story.html

Horcoff says it isn't what it used to be. He has it ranked 10-12 out of 30...but a guy that plays here 1-3 times a season probably knows more about the ice at Rexall than a guy that has been here for 10 years.

I didnt say i had skated on every teams ice, just that its good ice. Keep in mind the games speed has picked up in general in the last couple of years, therfore harder and sharper turns, create ruts, its ice its bound to happen. Also thats just horcoff's opinion, the majority of players asked voted Edmonton as the best ice. I'm not sure why there is a debate.

[Dorian2]

Originally Posted by Wheatking

I don't mean you. That was directed at the people talking about how they've skated at Rexall.

That's what I thought...just needed to clarify. You never know around here sometimes. Thanks for the clarification and I'm sure we are not the only fans seeing the difference in the ice conditions. It's really pronounced lately, and the Oilers need to fix it. I won't count on Northlands to do anything about it, that's for sure.

[Dorian2]

Originally Posted by RinkRatOil

I didnt say i had skated on every teams ice, just that its good ice. Keep in mind the games speed has picked up in general in the last couple of years, therfore harder and sharper turns, create ruts, its ice its bound to happen. Also thats just horcoff's opinion, the majority of players asked voted Edmonton as the best ice. I'm not sure why there is a debate.

Maybe they should just do a poll for the Oilers players. I'd bet that this rink would not come close to being #1 in that instance. And I think Horcoff, who plays 40 + games a year and probably practices on the ice 100+ times a year would know the situation better than, for instance, Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin or anyone else in the league.

[RinkRatOil]

Originally Posted by Dorian2

Maybe they should just do a poll for the Oilers players. I'd bet that this rink would not come close to being #1 in that instance.

Thats kinda different as well, because it is for sure different quality when they skate on it vs practices vs game time.
( i mean when other teams skate on it once or twice)

There also is a ton more traffic on the ice in the last couple years with concerts and everything else.

[Wheatking]

Originally Posted by RinkRatOil

I didnt say i had skated on every teams ice, just that its good ice. Keep in mind the games speed has picked up in general in the last couple of years, therfore harder and sharper turns, create ruts, its ice its bound to happen. Also thats just horcoff's opinion, the majority of players asked voted Edmonton as the best ice. I'm not sure why there is a debate.

My argument is that it's only been in the last 2-3 years that the quality has gone down at Rexall. It was the undisputed best ice in the league for about 15 years so a lot of players probably said Edmonton based on it's reputation.

Horcoff has said it's barely top 10(Still good but not the best). Patrick Laforge has said it isn't what it once was. Members of the media that travel with the team and get to see other team's ice first hand don't think it's the best anymore. Just watching the games you can see it isn't what it used to be.

..and it's not like there isn't excuses for it not being the best. The building is getting older, they have a new ice plant that they haven't figured how to maximize yet, the building holds tons of concerts. Plus the Oilers share the building with the Oil Kings and Rush.

[RinkRatOil]

Originally Posted by Wheatking

My argument is that it's only been in the last 2-3 years that the quality has gone down at Rexall. It was the undisputed best ice in the league for about 15 years so a lot of players probably said Edmonton based on it's reputation.

Horcoff has said it's barely top 10(Still good but not the best). Patrick Laforge has said it isn't what it once was. Members of the media that travel with the team and get to see other team's ice first hand don't think it's the best anymore. Just watching the games you can see it isn't what it used to be.

..and it's not like there isn't excuses for it not being the best. The building is getting older, they have a new ice plant that they haven't figured how to maximize yet, the building holds tons of concerts. Plus the Oilers share the building with the Oil Kings and Rush.

Did they get a new one? I thought it was just certain parts being replaced?

[Perfect_Drug]

Not sure if the ice at Rexall is an issue.

The Dallas Stars won a Cup playing on slush. Went to the finals once as well, and then they managed to destroy us in way too many consecutive years.


Also, keep in mind Colorado is 1mile up in the air. That's some pretty high altitude which must require a LOT more endurance and conditioning. Not necessarily ice conditions, but definitely will have an effect on performance (advantage going to the home team).