Paul Stewart: Farnham Incident Represents a Bigger Problem

Any thoughts on the continuation of the play? Reaves fights Tootoo, then gives him an extra punch while down. Reaves explains post game that Tootoo refused to fight him then sucker punched him from behind 6 years ago and this was in response. Personally, seems like old time hockey to me.... you break the code, you answer for it outweighs respecting a player who is down after a fight and easing up. But interested in hearing you thoughts as a former enforcer.

Any thoughts on the continuation of the play? Reaves fights Tootoo, then gives him an extra punch while down. Reaves explains post game that Tootoo refused to fight him then sucker punched him from behind 6 years ago and this was in response. Personally, seems like old time hockey to me.... you break the code, you answer for it outweighs respecting a player who is down after a fight and easing up. But interested in hearing you thoughts as a former enforcer.
- Antilles

Refs are just as much to blame as players....one night someone gets called for boarding, next night someone can get blasted right in front of a ref and nothing gets called. Of course when that happens, players are going to take things into their own hands. If they ref isn't going to call it, then might as well do it right?

Honestly I think you jumped the gun on Beautiful Bobby. I have only really seen him play in his time in Pittsburgh, but I remember him routinely slamming himself into the boards in order to avoid a dangerous hit. The less keen Pens fans usually said this was because he sucked at hockey and missed the hit all together, but it was because the defensemen decided it a good idea to turn his back. I think/hope this is an isolated incident and am glad the league gave him 4 games off the bat.

Great piece, Paul. I share your view point on "hitting" in today's game. When did players stop hitting with their shoulders and driving through with their legs? Now it's the chicken wing/high elbow follow through. Almost all of the players under a certain age hit with their hands/arms/elbows up. The legs are a lot stronger than the arms, unless a player works out at any local or meathead chain gym.

Fighting still has a place in the game. I agree that it shouldn't be after a clean, legal check. It seems players attack an opponent after a clean hit, yet when a dirty/illegal hit happens the receiving player's teammates rarely do anything except chirp, and maybe shove, the player who gave the dirty hit.

Paul Stewart: Farnham Incident Represents a Bigger Problem
- Paul Stewart