Matt Henderson: Fighting In Hockey: Do Not Go Crusading Fighting in Hockey has been brought back to the forefront of debate because of the Parros injury. Others may tell you it's time to ban fighting, I am not one of them.

97% of players want fighting in the game, enough said.

Take it out this is what you get

Tyson Nash ‏@TysonNash 55m
Take out fighting in the game and who controls the idiots running around taking shots at star players? I was that idiot, and I thought twice

A breath of fresh air - great article!

97% of players want fighting in the game, enough said.

Take it out this is what you get

Tyson Nash ‏@TysonNash 55m
Take out fighting in the game and who controls the idiots running around taking shots at star players? I was that idiot, and I thought twice
- Lahey

It was just freak accident, I have no problem with fights as long as it is to protect the skilled players from the douchebags.

but looks like the GM's want fights gone

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 2m
Strong views from NHL gm's who believe it's time to eliminate fighting. Story will be up on TSN.ca shortly. #TSN

It's part of the hockey fabric, but it's not really part of the actual game considering it happens between the whistles.

Amen Brother..

It was just freak accident, I have no problem with fights as long as it is to protect the skilled players from the douchebags.

but looks like the GM's want fights gone

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 2m
Strong views from NHL gm's who believe it's time to eliminate fighting. Story will be up on TSN.ca shortly. #TSN
- Symba007

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 1m
Yzerman, Shero and Rutherford speak candidly on elimination of fighting. http://bit.ly/GzR270

3 guys

Great write up Matt. Part of the issue is its Game 1, Habs and Leafs, HNIC... if its Jersey and the Panthers on game 22, this is not as big as its become. What if that was a missed check, does checking get banned? I'm all for elimination of the staged fights but not the "heat of the moment" mitt dropping. Look at the Joel Rechlicz vs Milan Lucic fight a couple of nights back.
A great scrap, no one hurt, crowd went nuts and the game was still good... It has a place, leave it alone!
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/118040

It's part of the hockey fabric, but it's not really part of the actual game considering it happens between the whistles.
- Jack-artist

Well said.

It was just freak accident, I have no problem with fights as long as it is to protect the skilled players from the douchebags.

but looks like the GM's want fights gone

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 2m
Strong views from NHL gm's who believe it's time to eliminate fighting. Story will be up on TSN.ca shortly. #TSN
- Symba007

sounds like it could be strong opinions from a few gm's...notice he didn't say majority of GM's.

It's part of the hockey fabric, but it's not really part of the actual game considering it happens between the whistles.
- Jack-artist

Most start before a whistle is blown. The fight is usually the reason for the whistle.

Interesting TB 5th in fights last year, Carolina 14th, Pit 17th.

Most start before a whistle is blown. The fight is usually the reason for the whistle.
- charlieb83

I think the point is the clock isn't actually running when fights are occurring.

I think the point is the clock isn't actually running when fights are occurring.
- Lahey

so fights are as relevant as the shootout

so fights are as relevant as the shootout
- BlowMonkey

Hey, it wasn't my point

Matt Henderson: Fighting In Hockey: Do Not Go Crusading
Fighting in Hockey has been brought back to the forefront of debate because of the Parros injury. Others may tell you it's time to ban fighting, I am not one of them.
- Matt_Henderson

I like fighting in hockey, it is part of the entertainment. But when I saw Paros go down like that last night, I said to my friend, that this is the beginning of the end of fighting in hockey.

Every hockey rink in NA has nets around it now because of one person getting killed by a fluke accident. I don't think they will wait for a NHL player to die from fighting to remove it from the game. I hope they don't, but I think they will.

Interesting TB 5th in fights last year, Carolina 14th, Pit 17th.
- Lahey

And lost nearly every one of them...

Most start before a whistle is blown. The fight is usually the reason for the whistle.
- charlieb83

what i'm getting at is that's more or less a sideshow, with an intangible effect that people still cling to. It doesn't really "protect" stars or "deter" cheap shot artists as much as it just turns into two guys punching each other for a paycheck. it stems from guys going after a guy for hurting a good player unfairly, but half the time it isn't even that. I'm past the point of caring about whether i'm pushing for a "pussified" or "softened" game, but i just feel its a meaningless vehicle for watching guys get hurt. I feel people just accept it for what it is, instead questioning why it still exists, as fighting is pretty much something completely secondary that people are mislead to believe actually affects the outcome of a game.

what i'm getting at is that's more or less a sideshow, with an intangible effect that people still cling to. It doesn't really "protect" stars or "deter" cheap shot artists as much as it just turns into two guys punching each other for a paycheck. it stems from guys going after a guy for hurting a good player unfairly, but half the time it isn't even that. I'm past the point of caring about whether i'm pushing for a "pussified" or "softened" game, but i just feel its a meaningless vehicle for watching guys get hurt. I feel people just accept it for what it is, instead questioning why it still exists, as fighting is pretty much something completely secondary that people are mislead to believe actually affects the outcome of a game.
- Jack-artist

Yet the fans love it. And they're the ones who pay for tickets. It's never going to be out of the game.

most NHL players that have died during their NHL career have been either from heart attacks or plane crashes. I believe exactly zero have died in an on ice fight. I think I know how to make the game safer.....vegan diets and bus travel only!

Probably the best article I've seen on fighting in a while, great job!!

97% of players want fighting in the game, enough said.

Take it out this is what you get

Tyson Nash ‏@TysonNash 55m
Take out fighting in the game and who controls the idiots running around taking shots at star players? I was that idiot, and I thought twice
- Lahey

Great article and great comment. No one wants to see what happened last night happen, plain and simple but it does. And i highly doubt that any of these 'anti-fighting' crusaders look away when two players drop the mits.

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???

most NHL players that have died during their NHL career have been either from heart attacks or plane crashes. I believe exactly zero have died in an on ice fight. I think I know how to make the game safer.....vegan diets and bus travel only!
- BlowMonkey

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