Fighting in the NHL

Fighting in the NHL? Yes, NO, Mabye

  • Keep It, its what sets our game apart from all the others

    Votes: 50 86.2%

  • Its got to go, someone will get injured severley. Doesnt belong in our game

    Votes: 2 3.4%

  • Status Quo

    Votes: 6 10.3%
  • Total voters
    58
  • Poll closed .
O

ovechkincrosby0887

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I was watching TSN last night and George Laraque was on and they were talking about fighting. So i thought i would put my imput in and also would love to listen to yours. Here is my imput... and remember its my imput.

I love to watch a hockey game that has fights in it. Its great when u have great fighters such as riley cote, donald brasher, george laraque and colton orr fight. It makes the game way more entertaining. Its also nice to see guys like crosby stand up for himself and fight someone else or ever guys like Mikael Grabovski and Sergei Kostitsyn get all angry and fisty with each other. Its what seperates out game. As long as stupid fighting doesnt exsit with guys like Brasher trying to fight Zach Bagosian its all cool. Guys drop the gloves to give momentem to their team and put on a show.
So i will have to say, keep fighting in hockey, just because its what brings the games level to another level.

Lets here your thoughts.
 
I think Mike Milbury and Pierre Mcguire should put on equipment, get out on the ice, and drop the gloves. Their off ice-on air verbal sissy fight on NBC last weekend was classic, would like to see what they can do on the ice.

PS: My money's on Milbury, granola boy doesn't stand a chance

I would edit your poll to say keep fighting and remove the instigator penalty, just my .02 worth.
 
This is all coming up because of Don Sanderson's death. With all due respect to him and his family, his death was a result of his head hitting the ice. That could happen to any player at any time... not just in fights.

The naysayers will say it is only a matter of time before this happens in the NHL. I disagree and say that someone will die from a puck or a skate to the throat before a player dies from a punch. What then, outlaw skates? Outlaw pucks?

You CANNOT change 100 year old rules to appease the few or one instance where something went seriously wrong.

Fighting won't be going anywhere. It is a major part of hockey; and the NHL WILL lose fans if they ever took it out of the game.

They WILL NOT because the Board of Governors, the owners, the moneymakers, get the final say on rule changes. The Competition Committee is made up of GMs, many former players, and they will vote against it too.

Thus far, the answers that have been given have been very political. "We will look into it..." "It will be put on the agenda..." "Any time something like this happens, you have to take a look...." What isn't said is will ultimately happen... fighting won't be going anywhere.

Gretz wants an additional penalty for slew-footing or tripping in a fight... that might be the most to come out of this.

The NHL won't be going the OHL-route with refs jumping in when a helmet pops off; and it is a shame that the OHL was so narrow-minded because those guys should be given a chance to develop ALL of their skills on the O. The NHL won't go that route because of the reasons stated above... they'll lose fans because the game will become more yuppyish and hockey-mom oriented. Hockey players should have the option of taking their helmet off because more damage to their knuckles than the other guys' head the majority of time. It's their option. Guys with face shields should HAVE to take off their helmets when fighting a guy without one in my opinion. They do get an extra minor when instigating a fight while wearing a face shield already.

In addition, removing fighting will turn the game over to the what Brian Burke refers to as "the rats." Guys like Burrows, Avery (when he's playing), Ott, Kaleta, Hollweg, etc. Guys that play the way they do are more of a threat for serious injuries than guys that fight. There will be no deterence to stop them from running around with their legs extended and sticks high. They will essentially be protected by the rules. The NHL can't have that as it will lead to more crazy incidents that lead off Sports Center.

Just a couple of points... I could go on and on.
 
If they're not allowed to fight then the NHL better get ready for increased head shots, slashing and cheap shots galore.

Drop the gloves and lets get ready to rumble.
 
I would keep fighting, but I also think pulling on a helmet should be an unsportsmanlike major and should result in an automatic ejection and league review.
 
Brave said:
I would keep fighting, but I also think pulling on a helmet should be an unsportsmanlike major and should result in an automatic ejection and league review.
Click to expand...

They pull the helmets off so they don't break their hands on them. It's an understood danger going into it. If anything, they should review the players who drive their opponent into the ice.
 
ovechkincrosby0887 said:
I love to watch a hockey game that has fights in it. Its great when u have great fighters such as riley cote, donald brasher, george laraque and colton orr fight. It makes the game way more entertaining. Its also nice to see guys like crosby stand up for himself and fight someone else or ever guys like Mikael Grabovski and Sergei Kostitsyn get all angry and fisty with each other. Its what seperates out game. As long as stupid fighting doesnt exsit with guys like Brasher trying to fight Zach Bagosian its all cool. Guys drop the gloves to give momentem to their team and put on a show.
So i will have to say, keep fighting in hockey, just because its what brings the games level to another level.
Click to expand...

Totally agree.

SkyFire47 said:
anyone who thinks fighting shouldn't be hockey should have their head examined.
Click to expand...

Then who would I collect? :rolleyes:
 
What they should do is to give an extra 2 minute penalty or a misconduct to any player who wrestles the other player to the ice. Its not the UFC. This will allow less fighter to pull the helmets off aswell.
 
Sensrookie said:
If they're not allowed to fight then the NHL better get ready for increased head shots, slashing and cheap shots galore.

Drop the gloves and lets get ready to rumble.
Click to expand...

Dead on. During the 05/06 season, I used to think having a fighter on the roster was a waste of a spot. Then in an Islander / Ranger game, Eric Godard was running around hitting our stars. Orr got on the ice and said something to Godard. Godard skated directly to the bench and didn't throw another hit all game.

Tell me that didn't open up the game for the star players to do their thing...
 
well by my sig you can tell I love hockey fights. The only rule I would change is if you fight with a visor you are out for the game. Now drop em :beer:
 
Last edited:
This is a far more complex question than the poll allows for (although I appreciate the thread, so thanks for creating it).

As a former hockey player and guy who has been in the game forever (as opposed to just a fan who pays to watch the game), I don't look at a hockey fight as entertainment. I don't need a fight to be entertained by hockey. I think this is probably not the case with a lot of fans who see the game differently than I do. I am not bothered by fights, but when they occur strictly for entertainment purposes (which I am aware they do, especially in junior and semi-pro), I am not interested.

With that said, I believe fighting is a part of the game of hockey, and should remain so.

Fights are entertaining to many people. I get that. But the reason they exist goes far beyond their entertainment value for guys who have played the game.

Hockey is a game of incredible intensity. It is also a game of cheap-shots and intimidation. Sometimes all of those things collide, and a guy needs to make a point on the ice.

I had several hockey fights in my day, and none were to entertain anyone. I fought because I was trying to prove myself and keep from getting run over by more experienced players, or guys who were less talented who needed to gain a physical edge by butt-ending, spearing, or whatever. Or, perhaps more importantly, I was defending a teammate.

For those reasons, fighting is a part of the game. If the situation is different (such as the Olympics), where you don't have less talented hacks running around taking shots at star players (because they are all star players), the need for fighting is diminished. If the game is a more skill game (like World Juniors), then the need is again diminished.

Most people (NHL included) don't play in that environment very often. When you are playing your guts out, and playing a clean game, and some guys spears you in the jewels and gets away with it in order to slow you down, there is sometimes a need to stand up against that and make sure the other team knows you won't be stopped by such actions. That goes way beyond "the crowd loves it", but like I said, it's a far more complex issue than most non-players give it credit for.
 
fly4apuckguy said:
This is a far more complex question than the poll allows for (although I appreciate the thread, so thanks for creating it).

As a former hockey player and guy who has been in the game forever (as opposed to just a fan who pays to watch the game), I don't look at a hockey fight as entertainment. I don't need a fight to be entertained by hockey. I think this is probably not the case with a lot of fans who see the game differently than I do. I am not bothered by fights, but when they occur strictly for entertainment purposes (which I am aware they do, especially in junior and semi-pro), I am not interested.

With that said, I believe fighting is a part of the game of hockey, and should remain so.

Fights are entertaining to many people. I get that. But the reason they exist goes far beyond their entertainment value for guys who have played the game.

Hockey is a game of incredible intensity. It is also a game of cheap-shots and intimidation. Sometimes all of those things collide, and a guy needs to make a point on the ice.

I had several hockey fights in my day, and none were to entertain anyone. I fought because I was trying to prove myself and keep from getting run over by more experienced players, or guys who were less talented who needed to gain a physical edge by butt-ending, spearing, or whatever. Or, perhaps more importantly, I was defending a teammate.

For those reasons, fighting is a part of the game. If the situation is different (such as the Olympics), where you don't have less talented hacks running around taking shots at star players (because they are all star players), the need for fighting is diminished. If the game is a more skill game (like World Juniors), then the need is again diminished.

Most people (NHL included) don't play in that environment very often. When you are playing your guts out, and playing a clean game, and some guys spears you in the jewels and gets away with it in order to slow you down, there is sometimes a need to stand up against that and make sure the other team knows you won't be stopped by such actions. That goes way beyond "the crowd loves it", but like I said, it's a far more complex issue than most non-players give it credit for.
Click to expand...

Much of the above is bang on.

The heavy-weights squaring off is TV stuff. Big George sits on the bench and will come out and scare someone.... lol Who is he scaring? So he fights the the teams heavy-weigth.... Big Deal.

Most fights are the result of intense interactions - and I never seen anyone get speared after major bantam (well mabye in the Intermediate and Senior leagues but in junior - it is not something you see to often). Fights are because tempers flare. I'm a 6'1" 200 lbs red-head (only 165 in JR.) - I have a temper. LOL I am trying to knock you into the 3rd row - you may wish to remind me that that upsets you and away we go.... LOL.

As for helmets - talk about sore knuckles - hit the edge of the helmet. If you're losing the fight, spin the helmet. Visors - I love guys who wear visors - it leaves a great scar on the bridge of their nose - hit the bottom half of the visor and watch the blood start flowing....

The worse guys to fight are the ones who don't wear a mouth guard - those teeth cut your knuckle us as well...

The worst part of fighting is - who buys the beer that night? You know we are going for beers afterwards. It's just part of the game.
 
When Georges is in the lineup, there are less scrums after a whistle. There are less people getting in Price's way in the crease. There are less players taking liberties on Koivu and other non-fighters.

He doesn't need to play 25mins a game. He doesn't even need to fight. It's his presence that matters. He's there to thwart off these kinds of actions teams use to gain an edge over other teams before they happen. Opponents know if they target Koivu, get in Price's way, throw a cheap shot here and there, that they have to pay the price.
 
Georges in one of the best fighters yet one of the softest players in the NHL. He isn't a very good enforcer IMO. Sure he chased Lucic up and down the ice; but what did that do? Lucic had some 8 eights that game. Laraque isn't a deterence because he is a gentle giant.

Give me Brashear any day. He's just as good a fighter; and he has a mean streak which actually makes players think twice. Just ask KOT who got dropped a few weeks ago when he stuck his chin out thinking he wouldn't get punches. Asked Hnidy. Ask Witt. Ask the Ranger who got dropped after Brashear beat Shanahan at MSG's center ice.
 

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