Im glad someone said this. Good job.

Some of these fighters would not be in the league without fighting in the game. If you take it out to protect these players, then you are really just taking away their job. It makes no sense. The only people who should vote on fighting is fighters, and all of them want to keep their jobs so they won't vote against it.

Some of these fighters would not be in the league without fighting in the game. If you take it out to protect these players, then you are really just taking away their job. It makes no sense. The only people who should vote on fighting is fighters, and all of them want to keep their jobs so they won't vote against it.
- anjello66

So they are pointless is what you are saying?

So they are pointless is what you are saying?
- FlyersSteve118

I don't think so at all. They are there to defend their stars. You need that type of player. If you don't Have them you will see a few more injuries to your star players. So you might think that role is pointless but i think it's vital to the teams protection and morale.

If you get rid of the fighters, you'll have more players like Patrick Kaleta in the league. The stickwork will become worse and the agitators will rule the game. A good example was someone like John Scott trying to punk Phil Kessel. Do you really think Scott tries this, if Orr and MacLaren are in the game? It makes the game more honest for all players.

By the way, good article. One of the best that I've read in a while.

If you get rid of the fighters, you'll have more players like Patrick Kaleta in the league. The stickwork will become worse and the agitators will rule the game. A good example was someone like John Scott trying to punk Phil Kessel. Do you really think Scott tries this, if Orr and MacLaren are in the game? It makes the game more honest for all players.

By the way, good article. One of the best that I've read in a while.
- PrinceLH

He did try it regardless of who the other team had.... im not sure of what you are trying to say. But if it wasn't legal to fight in the nhl and he was facing a 25 game suspension and a $100k fine do you think that would actually deter him? I think so.

Edit: also if kessel gets a 5 game suspension for every slash and a $10k fine for doing it. How many times do you think he slashes a guy? How quickly would players stop using their sticks as weapons.

I think this is one of those topics where people see what they want to see, but not what's actually happening.

Get rid of fighting and watch the stick work and cheap shots go through the roof. They already act with no regard towards each other how do you think it would be if they didn't have to worry about answering for their actions???
- Vukota

Agreed. I think it was PJ stock last night talking about college hockey and how there is no fighting so everyone is a tough guy and there are too many cheap shots taken with no fear of retribution.

With out fights I would be worried there would be more Kessel like reactions of huge slashes and more aggressive hitting (not a bad thing, but more cause of injury)

Great blog, Matt!

If you get rid of the fighters, you'll have more players like Patrick Kaleta in the league. The stickwork will become worse and the agitators will rule the game. A good example was someone like John Scott trying to punk Phil Kessel. Do you really think Scott tries this, if Orr and MacLaren are in the game? It makes the game more honest for all players.

By the way, good article. One of the best that I've read in a while.
- PrinceLH

They don't try it if they are going to lose 10s of thounds of dollars for doing it.

They don't try it if they are going to lose 10s of thounds of dollars for doing it.
- Talkshowhost

How much did Clarkson just lose? Biz Nasty? You think they really care about 10's of thousands?

What about Belak, Booguard, Kordic, Rypien, Probert

all died from combination of drugs/suicide/depression

All have a few things in common...Correlation here cannot be denied

Does fighting have a place in hockey? Yes
Does Hockey need fighters? No

Policing can be done on the ice, but make it be players like Clarkson, Neil, Thornton, Carkner. Players who can actually play a shift of hockey
- Alcatraz

Bob Probert had plenty of drug and alcohol problems long before he became an established fighter/ player. And yet he managed to play in an Allstar game the year he scored 29 goals in the NHL. He also went into rehab in the off season off almost every year he played pro hockey. He was his own enemy.
Kordic was a well established Defenceman in midget AAA hockey and the captain of the Portland Winterhawks in junior, 2 things you don't do if your unskilled. He did what he had to do to stay in the game after being exposed as an excellant fighter if need be. Eventually he turned to Steriods and later recreatioal drugs in an effort to keep up in the arms race of enforcers in the mid to late 80's and early 90's......his hockey fights bio lists him as only 6'1" ...190lbs. ..............Read a news paper....It's called pressure.......there are many stories about athletes taking their own lives and not all of them played hockey.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...ple_who_committed_suicide

Bob Probert had plenty of drug and alcohol problems long before he became an established fighter/ player. And yet he managed to play in an Allstar game the year he scored 29 goals in the NHL. He also went into rehab in the off season off almost every year he played pro hockey. He was his own enemy.
Kordic was a well established Defenceman in midget AAA hockey and the captain of the Portland Winterhawks in junior, 2 things you don't do if your unskilled. He did what he had to do to stay in the game after being exposed as an excellant fight if need be. Eventually he turned to Steriods and later recreatioal drugs in an effort to keep up in the arms race of enforcers in the mid to late 80's and early 90's......his hockey fights bio lists him as only 6'1" ...190lbs. ..............Read a news paper....It's called pressure.......there are many stories about athletes taking their own lives and not all of them played hockey.
- Rhino

Boogard had issues as well, the fact is these guys were actually lucky to have NHL goon jobs. It prevented them from having to steal and cheat their way through life. Where the heck would these guys be without the pay cheques? They also had programs available to them at their disposal, them not wanting to use them is unfortunate.

What needs to get better is teammates and coaches being able to better identify people with problems.