Not trashing, I just think with the direction the NHL, the BOG and even the NHLPA have taken, that fighting itself is on borrowed time and if fighting goes the way of the Dodo the Orrs, Gazdics, Parros', etc. will be gone.
- sanfordnson

i doubt fighting gets removed in our lifetime. the only reason this became a topic is a few summers ago when belak, booguard, and the other guy died...

edit. i think the nhl FEELS obligated to address it. I also think the NHL loves fighting.

Fuhr was the best goalie ever. Loved him
- weirdoh

Average at best in regular season, but showed up in the playoffs. I think it coincided with Columbia's harvest.

The one time I add in my monthly hockey talk and it's not even needed.
- weirdoh

oh its needed alright

sooo.. mike tyson on saktes.. good idea? bad idea?

Average at best in regular season, but showed up in the playoffs. I think it coincided with Columbia's harvest.
- sanfordnson

sure did love his coke.

Why not just do what they have been doing the past few games...dress Orr or McLaren..send them out for the odd shift, especially if the game is getting intense. Otherwise double shift Kessel, Lupul, Raymond or Kuli. Seems to be working ok. This way you still have the protection of the fighter if needed, but give the 4th line some extra skill/speed at other times.
- vermie22

Ok, then dress McLaren. Orr is having a very negative effect on Ashton....its humorous how many times someone says Ashton sucks, but the real cause of a play breaking down is Orr not being able to get to where he needs to be or even knowing where he needs to be.

oh its needed alright

sooo.. mike tyson on saktes.. good idea? bad idea?
- Dozzer

him and Grabo can scratch and bite each other...

oh its needed alright

sooo.. mike tyson on saktes.. good idea? bad idea?
- Dozzer

That's part of the problem! Goons used to be hockey players.

i doubt fighting gets removed in our lifetime. the only reason this became a topic is a few summers ago when belak, booguard, and the other guy died...
- IRON.MAIDEN

See Parros unaware of his surroundings recently? The medical evidence of massive concussion issues for enforcers grows bigger all the time. The NHL doesnt see the validity of enforcers as much as it sees the massive litigation it may continue to cause them, as shown by the multi-player lawsuit already filed.

That's part of the problem! Goons used to be hockey players.
- mykokes

i think lucic is an example of an old school tough guy.

punch with the best, and can still play top 6

Yup. You Canadians have it all wrong. Toe to toe. You are mental. Find the nearest object, be it a plastic chair or bottle and launch away.
- walshyleafsfan

makes a bigger mess to clean up after

a lil bit of blood or shattered glass and furniture.. yeah.. i can live with a lil blood stain lol

him and Grabo can scratch and bite each other...
- vermie22

he would make phaneuf sound manly

See Parros unaware of his surroundings recently? The medical evidence of massive concussion issues for enforcers grows bigger all the time. The NHL doesnt see the validity of enforcers as much as it sees the massive litigation it may continue to cause them, as shown by the multi-player lawsuit already filed.
- sanfordnson

you are implying the nhl is going to weigh the lesser of 2 evils

but not disagreeing the nhl is ok with fights?

it'll take a lot more than a few scrubs trying to sue to make fighting go away.

See Parros unaware of his surroundings recently? The medical evidence of massive concussion issues for enforcers grows bigger all the time. The NHL doesnt see the validity of enforcers as much as it sees the massive litigation it may continue to cause them, as shown by the multi-player lawsuit already filed.
- sanfordnson

I agree. Fighting will be phased out. There will always be the odd genuine scrap out there, but the enforcer will be gone in our lifetime.

you are implying the nhl is going to weigh the lesser of 2 evils

but not disagreeing the nhl is ok with fights?

it'll take a lot more than a few scrubs trying to sue to make fighting go away.
- IRON.MAIDEN

much easier to get a lawyer to add a clause to the player card they sign.

That's part of the problem! Goons used to be hockey players.
- mykokes

not true at all.

we're just told to remember them as such

my cousin played for years and never got 20 points

i looked up probert .. that (frank)er got 62 points one year! along with 398 PIM

how in hell did he make time for all of that?!

makes a bigger mess to clean up after

a lil bit of blood or shattered glass and furniture.. yeah.. i can live with a lil blood stain lol
- Dozzer

Yup. And an army of 1000 brad merchants can be quite the spectacle. If there were the refs involved in hooliganism the English would be a feared nation. We are all Phaneuf like you could say. (Just don't touch the face)

you are implying the nhl is going to weigh the lesser of 2 evils

but not disagreeing the nhl is ok with fights?

it'll take a lot more than a few scrubs trying to sue to make fighting go away.
- IRON.MAIDEN

It depends how much money it costs them and how much bad publicity it brings. Bettman's sole focus his entire tenure has been trying to make the NHL look legit in the US, and former players bringing lawsuits because of a practice the NHL allowed for decades even after evidence of its danger came out makes them look bush league. They want to run the league on the NFL model, not the Slapshot one. Not saying it's necessarily right, but it's reality. Time will tell.

i think lucic is an example of an old school tough guy.

punch with the best, and can still play top 6
- IRON.MAIDEN

these are the types of players that should be in the league. I agree that fighting should be apart of hockey still, but the staged fights need to stop, there is absolutely no motive, even that line brawl was (frank)ing stupid. If you want to get into a brawl with another team there has to be a motive. Like the leafs vs sabres i thought there was sort of a motive there

McKegg's AHL season continues to get better with the minutes 13 points in his past 11 gp.

much easier to get a lawyer to add a clause to the player card they sign.
- Rockhead_37

exactly.
the nhl has implimented quiet rooms, education, etc for concussion issues. The education is there.
I'm sure in the contracts they sign, the clause will be added if this insanity continues of potential lawsuits.

McKegg's AHL season continues to get better with the minutes 13 points in his past 11 gp.
- mykokes

KEGGGERRR

these are the types of players that should be in the league. I agree that fighting should be apart of hockey still, but the staged fights need to stop, there is absolutely no motive, even that line brawl was (frank)ing stupid. If you want to get into a brawl with another team there has to be a motive. Like the leafs vs sabres i thought there was sort of a motive there
- Mapleleafs_91

now if it was 5 fighters vs 5 fighters....

it was a huge delay in the game, and not one of those fights was especially a good tilt....

not true at all.

we're just told to remember them as such

my cousin played for years and never got 20 points

i looked up probert .. that (frank)er got 62 points one year! along with 398 PIM

how in hell did he make time for all of that?!
- Dozzer

Bruce, to see the skill level of goons today vs the past, simply look at their numbers in junior. Todays goons were crap in the CHL....yesterdays goons actually were 20-30 goal scorers.

And we're talking Warren Rychel right? Check out his 92/93 playoff numbers. Beyond the fighting he was a pretty decent 4th line player.

Or hell, how about this season in the IHL!
1990-91 Indianapolis Ice IHL 68 33 30 63 338

Orr would never be able to touch those numbers.

that katz letter would be concerning if I was an oil fan.

I don't think growing that core is the answer, some retooling would seem more adequate.

i'd keep hall, and 1 of nuge, eberle.. and start shaking up the rest. eberle and this years first is a big trade chip as is.
- joel878

You keep Hall and Nuge.

Hall because he's the most talented. Nuge, because it is next to impossible to find a number one centre, and although he's not there yet, he has the potential.

Eberle fetches you the best return, Gagner gets some pieces, Yaks is sold on potential for more.

exactly.
the nhl has implimented quiet rooms, education, etc for concussion issues. The education is there.
I'm sure in the contracts they sign, the clause will be added if this insanity continues of potential lawsuits.
- IRON.MAIDEN

and who is the biggest proponent of fighting in the game?

the NHL?? or the NHLPA??

which is why its so easy for them.. okay you guys want fighting. here the info and here's the clause... all about risk avoidance.