Ryan Wilson: Time for disciples of ‘The Code’ to grow up Time for disciples of ‘The Code’ to grow up

So i was watching the game last night with my 6 year old, and during the Sestito fight, he comments "Why do hockey players fight, why can't they just do Rock, Paper, Scissors"

The innocence of the question was endearing.

I disagree entirely about stars fighting stars. That's exactly the fights that matter. Not goons vs goons. Not no name AHLers trying to "impress" their coach about their "commitment." When stars fight (in general) it's raw emotion. Those are the only fights that I find acceptable and it isn't because it is entertaining, it's because clearly the two players involved care enough to do it, when they could be trying to score like they usually do.

I disagree entirely about stars fighting stars. That's exactly the fights that matter. Not goons vs goons. Not no name AHLers trying to "impress" their coach about their "commitment." When stars fight (in general) it's raw emotion. Those are the only fights that I find acceptable and it isn't because it is entertaining, it's because clearly the two players involved care enough to do it, when they could be trying to score like they usually do.

I agree and disagree. I agree when the stuff happens in the moment. But when stuff is planned out, that's where I don't like it.

-Everyone, stop fighting, it's beyond stupid
-Refs, start calling penalties, so players don't have to 'police' the game
-NHL Department of Player Safety, please make the suspension fit the crime, i.e., longer
-NHLPA, please tell your members to stop treating each other like crash test dummies, you don't need to retire with your brains scrambled
-NHL fans, if you want to see fights, go watch MMA or boxing, or wrestling

I disagree entirely about stars fighting stars. That's exactly the fights that matter. Not goons vs goons. Not no name AHLers trying to "impress" their coach about their "commitment." When stars fight (in general) it's raw emotion. Those are the only fights that I find acceptable and it isn't because it is entertaining, it's because clearly the two players involved care enough to do it, when they could be trying to score like they usually do.
- AdamFrench

Agreed. Fights between guys like Malkin and Wheeler are great. Just raw disdain.

Completely disagree......as I watch other sports like football or basketball and see a cheap shot or showboating I often say I wish they were allowed to police themselves in those situations. Nothing makes me sicker than seeing some idiot showboat after a TD or a 3 pointer with that stupid superman or bow and arrow crap. Thats meant to embarrass the other team plain and simple and I for one would love to see someone have to fight to defend that ridiculous behavior.

I also think Mario has lost credibility when it comes to fighting. I forget the exact details, but in addition to the proposal mentioned, I also believed he made a plea to take fighting out of the game or make players more responsible or something along those lines. This was years ago. But then during that playoff series against the Flyers Mario was silent when it was his star players that were the one's insighting all of the melee's (one star in particular). And I'm not trying to argue or rehash that series too much, but just saying Mario lost credibility in my eyes because of it.

-Everyone, stop fighting, it's beyond stupid
-Refs, start calling penalties, so players don't have to 'police' the game
-NHL Department of Player Safety, please make the suspension fit the crime, i.e., longer
-NHLPA, please tell your members to stop treating each other like crash test dummies, you don't need to retire with your brains scrambled
-NHL fans, if you want to see fights, go watch MMA or boxing, or wrestling
- scottak

I'm not going to get into a debate on fighting here, but no amount of penalties will stop things like the Nyqvist spear. He got hit, was seeing red, and struck the player. He didn't stop to think and think of the ramifications, he acted on pure rage-induced instinct. It happens sometimes, and no amount of penalties/suspensions will stop it.

Quick question for everyone:

When a fight happens during a game, do you walk away/change the channel, or, if you're at the game, do you remain in your seat/check your phone/go to the bathroom/snack bar?

Quick question for everyone:

When a fight happens during a game, do you walk away/change the channel, or, if you're at the game, do you remain in your seat/check your phone/go to the bathroom/snack bar?
- jmatchett383

I vomit all over the person in front of me. Allergic reaction to confrontations. I went too far left.

i thought Geno's hit on wheeler looked just like the trouba hit and the hit guentzel received. yet they were not reviewed the same by the league office. i think its an easy solution: grade everyone by the same standard, regardless of team or players #/salary.

So i was watching the game last night with my 6 year old, and during the Sestito fight, he comments "Why do hockey players fight, why can't they just do Rock, Paper, Scissors"

The innocence of the question was endearing.
- cap1681

But they are playing Rock Paper Scissors.... They just always throw Rock.

Sestito has zero value in this league. I 100% agree with you there. His kind will not exist in the near future.

I respect what Malkin did last night. I would much rather see two guys settle it via a fight as opposed to another questionable hit or some sort of stick work.

If the Officials called the games as required by the rule book and if the League would discipline the violent players, fighting and retaliatory behavior would disappear save for those cases when one or more players had lost their minds. That the NHL tacitly endorses this kind of behavior may cause some players to bring a class action lawsuit against the League.

I disagree entirely about stars fighting stars. That's exactly the fights that matter. Not goons vs goons. Not no name AHLers trying to "impress" their coach about their "commitment." When stars fight (in general) it's raw emotion. Those are the only fights that I find acceptable and it isn't because it is entertaining, it's because clearly the two players involved care enough to do it, when they could be trying to score like they usually do.
- AdamFrench

Bingo.

If the Officials called the games as required by the rule book and if the League would discipline the violent players, fighting and retaliatory behavior would disappear save for those cases when one or more players had lost their minds. That the NHL tacitly endorses this kind of behavior may cause some players to bring a class action lawsuit against the League.
- szielinski

You think any judge worth a damn is gonna let that case completely based on conjecture go anywhere?

I had this discussion during the game yesterday with another person and I completely agree with you Ryan. It really isn't the "fighting", it is the whole "call up" from the minors of the "tough guy". It is the news papers in the city that hypes up "violence" because well people love violence.

We live in a very paradoxical odd time right now where violence is wanted out of society as a whole and yet organizations or rather "businesses" like the NHL play the neanderthal game still sticking their head in the sand when it comes to player safety and violence. Rather then turn a blind eye be franking honest....every single fan knew what was coming last night, the Winnepeg paper knew what was coming.....yet the NHL allows and condones it by not sending out a little note to both teams that violence or retribution will not be tolerated and big suspensions could come.

Obviously players can't police themselves because "cheap shots" and terrible positioning hits still occur. Many players do have respect for other players but some players still have NO respect for each other. Player safety and the neanderthal arm dragging will only stop when it is actually taken seriously by player safety...but hey entertainment sells so why change anything right.....

Quick question for everyone:

When a fight happens during a game, do you walk away/change the channel, or, if you're at the game, do you remain in your seat/check your phone/go to the bathroom/snack bar?
- jmatchett383

Yes, I usually stop paying attention, I'll go straight to my phone, and give my attention back when the fight is over. It turns me off.

You think any judge worth a damn is gonna let that case completely based on conjecture go anywhere?
- Zac_O

"Your honor, I signed a contract of my own free will to play professional hockey in this league for millions of dollars annually. I was able to retire from the game at any time of my choosing. Please make them pay me more because I didn't choose to stop playing and got hurt."

Quick question for everyone:

When a fight happens during a game, do you walk away/change the channel, or, if you're at the game, do you remain in your seat/check your phone/go to the bathroom/snack bar?
- jmatchett383

Perfect time to take a pee.

The concept of deterrence ended when the instigator rule was established. Back in the 92 playoffs when various Rangers players were taking cheapshots against Lemieux, Tocchet threatened Messier (not those taking the cheapshots) and the cheapshots stopped. He could do this back then because the instigator rule did not exist then. Nowadays it would be too costly to do this because of that rule and thus deterrence is no longer possible. Now, whether the instigator rule itself is good is debatable, although it is something that prevents NHL hockey from turning into pro wrestling.

As for fighting in general, the visor rule combined with the helmet rule has largely killed off meaningful fighting and what little fighting there is now is pointless. There still are a handful of old goons like Chris Neil and Tootoo who can have meaningful fights between themselves, because they do not wear visors, but these will be extinct in a few years. I can't believe that any player would risk breaking his hand on another's visor and be out for six weeks. I was really glad to see Malkin not throw any punches in the fight. He put his hands to better use later in the game . Now, if players could remove their helmets then we could have meaningful fights again but the helmet rule prevents that.

As for Sestito, yeah, there probably was no reason to bring him up (for this game or any other, for that matter). Having said that, his hit on Enstrom was very similar to Byfuglien's on Schultz. In both cases the player being hit turned his back at the last moment, increasing the potential severity of his injury. Yeah, Sestito came in faster, resulting in a legitimate boarding penalty, but had Enstrom not turned his back or better yet turtled or something he would not have gotten injured. Had he turtled Sestito might have injured himself on the boards. In any case I think we have seen the last of Sestito in a Penguin jersey.

I dont understand if you guys cant handle hockey why do you watch it. The coaches the players the gms all want fighting save for a few. Malkin and Ccrosby both like fighting. Ovi likes fighting. Its their game, they decide and your opinions mean nothing to any of them.

I don't really have a problem with Rutherford calling up Sestito going off what has transpired in previous games. But Sullivan should've benched him after the fight with Thorburn, the point was made, if you do anything from there on out Sestito will be coming. However later he made a poor hit, he should've let up on Enstrom. Enstrom also shares some blame, he made a bad decision to turn his back to an approaching player at the last second, its common but it is not smart, its better to just absorb a side hit.

Sestito didn't deter Malkin and Wheeler from fighting, because Geno obliged him, so that was his decision.