"There's a lack of respect in hockey these days."
It's a saying I hear all of the time, usually from people at least 10 years separated from the game.
But here's the thing, it doesn't seem that there is any hard evidence to suggest hockey players play with less respect for their opponents nowadays compared 10-20 years ago.
In the 1970s for example, was it really a clean hockey game? Do people forget Philadelphia Flyers winger Bobby Clarke used to pretend his hockey stick was a hacksaw and his opponents' legs were trees? Or how about when the Boston Bruins' Mike Milbury beat a fan over the head with his own shoe. My personal "classy hockey moment" favourite was when J.P. Parise threatened to swing his stick at a referee.
Sure, you can argue those three players don't represent the NHL or 1970s hockey in general. You would be right, but the same can be said about Buffalo Sabres goon John Scott, Los Angeles Kings agitator Daniel Carcillo and Minnesota Wild troublemaker Matt Cooke, albeit he has somewhat cleaned up his game, in today's NHL.
Looking down the road into the late 1990s and early 2000s, there doesn't seem to be this "respectful hockey game" that a lot of people want to remember. This was the same time when Toronto Maple Leafs winger Darcy Tucker took out New York Islanders centre Michael Peca's knees a solid three seconds after he played the puck. This was also the time when Marty McSorley, who was with the Bruins at the time, slashed the side of then Vancouver Canucks tough guy Donald Brasher's head.
Reality check - hockey players have always lacked respect for their opponents. This game has always entailed dirty hits, baseball-swing slashes and more trash talk on the ice to fill an ocean full of swear jars.
It's inevitable to have people thinking back in the day was better, though. This applies to everything in life, not just hockey. The older generation always thinks the way they did things was better than nowadays. On some occasions they are right; however, on many others, including respect in hockey, they are wrong.
There are, however, quite likely more injuries in today's hockey. This is largely because the players are bigger and faster. It's also because professional and minor hockey leagues are more knowledgeable and precautionary with injuries. Concussions, for example, are treated completely differently than they were in the 1970s. In 2013 when you suffer dizziness after a hit to the head in the NHL, a doctor evaluates you. Twenty years ago you would have been told to suck it up and get back on the ice. Therefore, it's inevitable that injury statistics would skyrocket.
Entitlement
Entitlement is quite evident in hockey these days, especially in minor hockey. Even though I only truly know the attitudes in dressing rooms in the late 2000s, I'm going to side with the argument that there is more entitlement in today's generation.
There are oodles of players who want lots of ice time that don't want to work for it. They don't believe they should need to take a couple trips out to the outdoor rink or gym during the week to earn that ice time.
You aren't born being entitled, though. It is taught. And that's why so many kids are entitled these days - they learn it from their parents. Mom and dad's bad attitudes wear off on them. In addition, some parents who aren't entitled have entitled kids because they pump their tires all day long and don't discipline them.
