from Lucas Aykroyd of Billy,

You were 29 when you peaked with 152 points for the Bruins in 1971. If a 29-year-old Phil Esposito got to play in today’s league, how would he do?

If my aunt had b---, she’d be my uncle. What kind of question is that? How would I know? I don’t know. These guys are faster, they’re bigger, they’re stronger. The equipment is to die for. I don’t know even know how they get hurt, to tell you the truth, with the equipment and the goaltending equipment and all that. But the one thing they don’t have that we had was respect for one another. And without respect, you’ve got nothing.

I don’t agree with all the training today. I think that’s why they get hurt so much. With me, you know, they had to go through an inch, an inch and a half of fat before they got the muscle. Now they spear you and they’ve got muscle.

Overall, how do you like the way the game is played today?

Well, there’s certainly not enough scoring in the game. The goaltending equipment is huge. The defence is huge. With all that padding, everybody blocks shots. That I don’t like about the NHL. I don’t like the fact that guys are able to hit from behind with no repercussions. I mean, they don’t give a crap. I don’t like that at all. I don’t like the fact that you’re not allowed to protect yourself, and I especially hate the after-whistle scrums, where they’re pushing one another.

In my day, if I pushed a guy like that, the guy would have punched me right in the face, and I wouldn’t have done it again. Now they mill around, and you’ve got guys who aren’t brave at all, yapping about it. I just don’t like that at all.

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