NHL Notebook: A taste of the past would help grow today's game

There’s not enough personality in the NHL. Check that: there are plenty of characters in the league but their personalities aren’t front and center on a consistent basis as it should be. It’s too bad because hockey has always been a game of tall tales and non-stop entertainment.

The game has changed so much in the last four decades. The NHL is younger, stronger and faster. Today’s players certainly make more money, are healthier and don’t have the reputation they once did.

It was easier to identify with the players in the 70s because no one wore helmets and there seemed to be more of a connection between the players and the fans. Earlier this week, the Bruins honored the 40^th anniversary of the Bruins’ 11, 20-goal scorers from the 1977-78 season. It’s a record that still stands and likely will never be broken.

The majority of those 11 players, including coach Don Cherry, attended the ceremony at TD Garden. It was a perfect opportunity to ask these old-timers to compare the personalities of the different eras.

“I would assume, and these guys would probably back me up, they probably had more fun,” said team president Cam Neely about the alumni. “Now, it’s a lot more business-like, which is understandable because there’s certainly a lot more at stake. These guys probably had more fun on the road than our players do.”

We’re not talking about pounding beers or breaking curfews. It’s more about the game itself and the different personalities from past and present. During the recent NHL All-Star game hosted by the Tampa Bay Lightning last month, it was a perfect opportunity to showcase the league’s elite talent and the many outgoing personalities.

Bruins’ Brad Marchand played the role of villain and played it well only because he was in the midst of serving a five-game suspension. He had fun with the crowds and showed his personality. The overall showcase could have been better and fans want to see and hear more than these players answering the question: How much fun are you having? Would love to know how many times that question was asked.

It’s not the players’ fault. The league is vanilla today compared to what it used to be like and that’s too bad. The players are constantly being told what to say and how to handle certain situations. Access to the players, especially in the bigger markets, isn’t what it used to be.

Anyway, that’s an entirely different discussion for a future column. The point here is the on-ice product and how it has changed from an entertainment standpoint. It’s a still a great game, but it’s lost some of its personality. And, it’s not only because there’s less fighting.

“It is a different game,” said Terry O’Reilly. “There’s not as much pushing and shoving and jawing and the referees control that more. There are fewer physical confrontations, especially when you get into the playoffs, which shows it’s not really crucial. I always thought back when we played, people talked about taking fighting out of the game, and I said, ‘Yeah, you can do that but don’t you like a sport where, and I’m not advocating fighting, but don’t you like a sport where two players are so intense that they’re willing to fight each other for that puck, or that goal, or that position?’ You want players in any sport to compete to that level of intensity, not necessarily where it would break out into a fight, but have it at that edge.

“I think the NHL, by adjusting the rules slowly, has maintained that the players compete with intensity, and when the Stanley Cup is on the line there’s nothing better than watching a Stanley Cup playoff game.”

O’Reilly’s 100 percent correct. The Stanley Cup is the toughest championship to win. The former player and coach also admitted he doesn’t watch a lot of hockey during the regular season because it’s not as entertaining. He’ll watch and read about the highlights every day from the prior night’s schedule of games, but he’ll mostly watch only playoffs games from start to finish.

Back to Marchand: he’s definitely the type of player who could have played in both eras.

“You love to see him play because you don’t know what’s going to happen when he’s out there,” Cherry said. “A lot of things do happen, but there aren’t too many guys like Terry O’Reilly but Marchand is close to it. He seems to score goals when you need them. He’s one of my favorites.”

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The Bruins began their longest road trip of the season on Friday as the team embarks on a 10-day, five-game trip through Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Buffalo. The Bruins will also conduct their annual rookie party while the team is in Toronto for four days.

The trip is coming at the perfect time with the team playing so well and with the NHL trade deadline quickly approaching on Feb. 26. This time on the road is always invaluable for team bonding, which is one reason the Bruins are playing so well this season. Coach Bruce Cassidy is already trying to plan a curling tournament for next season.

During his coaching tenure with the Capitals 15 seasons ago, Cassidy attempted to organize a team curling tournament, but plans fell through. The coach has a fondness for the sport since his parents used to curl when Cassidy was a kid.

“I love watching the sport,” he said. “Believe it or not, and people think it’s crazy, but there’s a lot of skill involved and strategic maneuvering. I would like to find a way to do it next season, I really would.”

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Speaking of the Olympics, the Winter Games have been on the large-screen TV in the Bruins’ locker room all week. It’s fun to watch the players paying attention to the different sports. Captain Zdeno Chara stood and watched the speed skating. When asked if he’s tried the sport, he said no but it’s something he would like to try.

Since the NHL is not participating in the Olympics, many would-be Olympians have discussed their frustrations in the past, but there’s nothing they can do about it now.

“I don’t have any hard feelings,” Chara said. “The decision was made and we had to accept it. Obviously, as much as I think every one of us who would’ve been selected would like to be there, but we have to accept that the decision was made and now we’re focused on playing in the NHL.”

David Krejci has been keeping tabs on his fellow Czechs, but also admits he’s focused on his task at hand.

“I made peace with that,” he said. “It still would be nice to be there. Sometimes you’re just watching TV and (you think), ‘I could be there right now.’ But I’ve made peace with that already. It doesn’t mean I’m happy about the decision, but it is what it is. There’s nothing you can do but enjoy the other sports on TV and have some fun watching it on TV.”

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A few days before Boston Herald Bruins beat writer Steve Harris underwent heart surgery, I sent him a text message to wish him well. He responded: “Thanks, Joe. It’s going to be an interesting few weeks, with, I hope, a happy ending.” Harris passed away Thursday night due to complications from his surgery. He was 66.

Our many conversations over the years were mostly spent talking about hockey, but it wasn’t always related to our jobs. We traded stories about our sons’ hockey careers. His son is playing college hockey and my son is a second-year peewee. Steve would always tell me to enjoy it now because it goes by so fast. We sat next to each other in the press box at TD Garden and he would look over my shoulder when I was streaming one of my son’s games that I couldn’t attend because of work. Or, he would push his computer between us when he was watching one of his son’s games.

It was fun to watch Steve work as a beat writer because he was old school. I will miss him on a personal and professional level. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Here’s hoping the Hockey Hall of Fame recognizes Steve for his longtime contributions in hockey journalism and posthumously honor him with the Elmer Ferguson Award during next year’s enshrinement.