Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Brandon Prust Explains His Stance on Fighting A closer look at new Canucks acquisition Brandon Prust, his stance on fighting, and what type of team the Canucks will ice next season.

Great write up Carol! Keep up the awesome work

"Last season, fighting hit its lowest frequency yet, with just 276 players fighting 391 times—more than 50 percent of that peak number above. (And yes, it still makes me chuckle that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Dan Hamhuis have their names included on last year's fighting list.)" - CS

It is an interesting trend. Is fighting trending downward in the CHL?

The game, at times, seems just as chippy as it has ever been. I am glad we have Prust and Dorsett. At least both can skate.

Thanks Carol,

I have the same doubts about the efficacy of fighters policing the game. Fighting has been decreasing league wide but the Canucks have seen increases the last couple of years. I'm really glad that at least this team's fighters can play the game of hockey but do find it concerning that Benning felt he needed to add to that total.

I have no problem with a fight between two pissed of players who get into it but most the fights we still see are pointless. If Dorsett really wants to fight John Scott, don't go crying to mgmt that you need another fighter on the team......just don't fight one of the most useless players to ever make it in the NHL.

We still see cheap shots all the time in the game and fighters routinely are guilty of cheap shots, stick work, etc.

Follow Prusty on twitter, he's got some awesome posts...

Not happy that Canucks seem to be thinking old school so much. Don't mind if JB had said we need grittier tougher players, instead of, "safe working environment" that he said...

i'd rather the focus be on hard nosed play than fighting...

Thanks Carol,

I have the same doubts about the efficacy of fighters policing the game. Fighting has been decreasing league wide but the Canucks have seen increases the last couple of years. I'm really glad that at least this team's fighters can play the game of hockey but do find it concerning that Benning felt he needed to add to that total.

I have no problem with a fight between two pissed of players who get into it but most the fights we still see are pointless. If Dorsett really wants to fight John Scott, don't go crying to mgmt that you need another fighter on the team......just don't fight one of the most useless players to ever make it in the NHL.

We still see cheap shots all the time in the game and fighters routinely are guilty of cheap shots, stick work, etc.
- belcherbd

Call me crazy, but I don't think John Scott has any value except being on the 4th line and dropping the mitts. At least Dorsett and Prust are on the PK and play more of a regular shift.

The idea of two players battling then eventually dropping the gloves is great. Staged fights that are against the flow of play are silly.

The issue at times is the agitator/pest player that is chippy and indiscriminate in their targets. The way the game is called or not called. I don't think fighting will ever totally disappear unless the game is officiated closer to the letter of the law.

Not happy that Canucks seem to be thinking old school so much. Don't mind if JB had said we need grittier tougher players, instead of, "safe working environment" that he said...

i'd rather the focus be on hard nosed play than fighting...
- kaptaan

Too bad we don't have many hard nosed players. (dish it out and can take it)

Not hard nosed (don't dish it out, but may be able to take it)_

Edler, Tanev, Sedins, Vrbata, Higgins, Vey, Baertschi, Weber, Corrado

Somewhat hard nosed - not really fighters - rarely drop the gloves

Burrows, Sutter, Hansen, Kenins, Sbisa, Bartkowski, Hamhuis (honourable mention)
Horvat?

Hard nosed
Dorsett, Prust

I look at the team and wonder who steps up for who? Who on this roster sees a team mate getting cheap shotted and is willing to step in? Prust and Dorsett.

Lots of teams in the west like to mix it up. The nice thing about this "old school" is Dorsett and Prust can actually play a regular shift. Not like a Boogard, Scott or Worrell goon class.

Thanks Carol,

I have the same doubts about the efficacy of fighters policing the game. Fighting has been decreasing league wide but the Canucks have seen increases the last couple of years. I'm really glad that at least this team's fighters can play the game of hockey but do find it concerning that Benning felt he needed to add to that total.

I have no problem with a fight between two pissed of players who get into it but most the fights we still see are pointless. If Dorsett really wants to fight John Scott, don't go crying to mgmt that you need another fighter on the team......just don't fight one of the most useless players to ever make it in the NHL.

We still see cheap shots all the time in the game and fighters routinely are guilty of cheap shots, stick work, etc.
- belcherbd

Well said, fully agree.

Good read Carol. Interesting comment about Boogaard and the culture in the WHL. Wondering if that same culture exists in the other junior leagues?

Well said, fully agree.
- Nucker101

here's a nice blog/post on reddit (saw link in the province) re: benning's plan.

we can argue about the plan or the moves made to implement the plan but it's clear (to those that wish to see) that benning is moving the team in his desired direction.

https://www.reddit.com/r/...nings_plan_and_stem_some/

here's a nice blog/post on reddit (saw link in the province) re: benning's plan.

we can argue about the plan or the moves made to implement the plan but it's clear (to those that wish to see) that benning is moving the team in his desired direction.

https://www.reddit.com/r/...nings_plan_and_stem_some/
- RealityChecker

Decent discussion over there.


But I think "OrigamiRock's" rebuttal is still more in line with my thinking and just makes more sense to me than the OP.

Follow Prusty on twitter, he's got some awesome posts...
- geta02it

So did Luongo and we got rid of him.

Ive known quite a few pro fighters.....a few from nhl and a pro boxer. Major brain damage there in all. To be fair there were also motorcycle accidents with all of them too.

Most ofnthese lose their licenses because the damage ends up impairing them bad enough.

Good to see thisnisnt the case in the ufc. They are tryly looking after their fighters and assuring this doesnt happen. Fight only a few times a year, recognizing whe its time to cut off the fighter from fighting further and excellent medical staff. Well done. Take notice nhl

Decent discussion over there.


But I think "OrigamiRock's" rebuttal is still more in line with my thinking and just makes more sense to me than the OP.
- Nucker101

i can agree with disagreeing with benning's moves but that "rebuttal" was all over the map. not a very cogent argument at all. however, that isn't my point.

like i said, we can disagree about the plan. benning seems to have a 3-5 year outlook and doesn't seem to care about the "details" (contract and trade overpayment) in order to get there.

there is plenty of ammunition to attack him on those points, however, it's frustrating when people won't acknowledge the long range vision when attacking the short term moves.

as the OP pointed out, the ultimate success or failure will fall on drafting and development (and points out that gaining draft picks rather than losing them would be better).

this is not to say that we can't or shouldn't criticize benning's moves but when criticizing these moves, we should also acknowledge that there is a longer term plan in place.

perspective: it's a wonderful thing.

Until there is consistency in the way games are called there will be fighting. A penalty in the preseason needs to be a penalty in the post season and hits to the head need to called as such. There should not be a scale or a debate on points of contact, just call them all and then maybe players will think before they injure their colleague, and maybe these guys won't have to fight anymore. Inconsistent calls game to game and player to player are what ruin hockey for me.
Still can't stop watching tho.

Until there is consistency in the way games are called there will be fighting. A penalty in the preseason needs to be a penalty in the post season and hits to the head need to called as such. There should not be a scale or a debate on points of contact, just call them all and then maybe players will think before they injure their colleague, and maybe these guys won't have to fight anymore. Inconsistent calls game to game and player to player are what ruin hockey for me.
Still can't stop watching tho.
- Greenbike14

Players are to big and the rinks are to small, they can't avoid injuring each other.

Until there is consistency in the way games are called there will be fighting. A penalty in the preseason needs to be a penalty in the post season and hits to the head need to called as such. There should not be a scale or a debate on points of contact, just call them all and then maybe players will think before they injure their colleague, and maybe these guys won't have to fight anymore. Inconsistent calls game to game and player to player are what ruin hockey for me.
Still can't stop watching tho.
- Greenbike14

There is an old quote, can't remember who said it though, about hockey having to be a great game to survive the morons who run it. or something to that effect.

I think the ice surface has to be enlarged to spread out the play and give players a little more time to make decisions and see a hit approaching. Almost too much speed when they stick to the rule book, on the small ice surface, and that means bigger collisions and more injuries.

The decision to add Prust to the same team that already has Alex Burrows was just one of the great decisions that has Benning on many Oilers fans Christmas list. Keep up the good work!

Players are to big and the rinks are to small, they can't avoid injuring each other.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Ill agree with that. Love to see bigger ice.

The decision to add Prust to the same team that already has Alex Burrows was just one of the great decisions that has Benning on many Oilers fans Christmas list. Keep up the good work!
- OilyJay

Please go on... Would love to hear your reasoning.

"
can agree with disagreeing with benning's moves but that "rebuttal" was all over the map. not a very cogent argument at all. however, that isn't my point.

like i said, we can disagree about the plan. benning seems to have a 3-5 year outlook and doesn't seem to care about the "details" (contract and trade overpayment) in order to get there.

there is plenty of ammunition to attack him on those points, however, it's frustrating when people won't acknowledge the long range vision when attacking the short term moves.

as the OP pointed out, the ultimate success or failure will fall on drafting and development (and points out that gaining draft picks rather than losing them would be better).

this is not to say that we can't or shouldn't criticize benning's moves but when criticizing these moves, we should also acknowledge that there is a longer term plan in place.

perspective: it's a wonderful thing."

Flagged.

Stop with all this "rational", "analytical", "unemotional" evaluation of management.

so would Prust have put a better stop to Ferlund last year in the playoffs running around smashing everyone? No one else on the team was able to police that. I think this move right or wrong is a direct answer to that. I dont say I agree, but Benning saw something as a problem and he has attempted to solve that problem. So now what will be interesting is to see the outcome of the way JB handles topics he feels are an issue.

so would Prust have put a better stop to Ferlund last year in the playoffs running around smashing everyone? No one else on the team was able to police that. I think this move right or wrong is a direct answer to that. I dont say I agree, but Benning saw something as a problem and he has attempted to solve that problem. So now what will be interesting is to see the outcome of the way JB handles topics he feels are an issue.
- KOS

Their is no telling if he would have done a better job than anyone else. But my guess is, yes.

Guy can skate hit and put people in their places when they get out of line.

When Kass was traded Dorsett messaged Benning saying "Thank you"

In other words, Thank god I dont have to be the only one to defend these pansies.

so would Prust have put a better stop to Ferlund last year in the playoffs running around smashing everyone? No one else on the team was able to police that. I think this move right or wrong is a direct answer to that. I dont say I agree, but Benning saw something as a problem and he has attempted to solve that problem. So now what will be interesting is to see the outcome of the way JB handles topics he feels are an issue.
- KOS

I don't know if Prust could have put a stop to Ferlund, but at least he can give it back to their players too.

We are an easy team to play against. A team needs a little sandpaper. Makes me think about Bouwmeester when he was in Florida, heard a repeated story of visiting forwards not minding playing the Panthers because they weren't going to be hit by him. No worries of him inflicting bruises, aches or pains.

If a club is getting pushed around, and they don't push back, they will continue to be pushed... easy target.