Banning Fighting in NHL

[porky14]

Now if they do this, there will be alot more cheap shots.

[gopher_guy]

They shouldn't ban fighting, if they do anything they should just make the punishment bigger. Fighting should still be a part of the game, but only when it is needed. Not the way it is now, seemingly just a gimmick to get people excited.

Or maybe, if a guy gets in more than 10 fights a year, you have to pay him more, that would sure get GM's to persuade their players to not fight, and I think it would completely eliminate the enforcer role on the team. If all he can do is fight, you're going to have to pay him more, and I'm sure most GM's would be quick to cut ties with their goons to save $. Why spend money on a guy who's only true NHL level skill is fighting?

Just thinking out loud here...

[slickdtc]

Those are pretty good rough ideas.

I don't think fighting and cheap shots have ANY correlation anymore. No one answers the bell anymore. The bell should be a suspension handed down from the league, and hopefully with Shanahan in charge there, something, ANYTHING will get done, and get dealt with correctly.

If anything, I wish they'd lean towards more severe punishments instead of going on the lighter end. Something, ANYTHING has to be done because this is getting too crazy. A really good player can't play anymore (Savard), and a top 3 player is still dealing with concussion issues (Crosby). Not to mention the David Perron's of the league who are still having problems due to a concussion.

[Qb]

More or less related to the discussion... check out this Men's Health interview with former Flyers tough guy and current AHL asst coach Riley Cote. Great read that gets into not only the physical toll, but also the mental aspects of being an enforcer from a guy who retired at 28 for reasons close to the debate.

[slickdtc]

Very telling interview with Cote.

He touches on if fighting should be banned, then goes on to talk about certain guys like Matt Cooke and Sean Avery who play recklessly but don't answer the bell quite as much as your typical enforcer. Which is happening already, with fighting in place. But he says eliminating fighting would be "complete bull."

Don't understand.

[Qb]

My take on that Slick was that Cote thinks the "rats" (as he calls them) would only get worse if they knew anyone that tries to fight them would be more severely punished. I can see where he's coming from. Even playing roller hockey there are always some little [bleeps] who will act tough because they know no one can pound on them.

Fighting in hockey is such a layered and complex issue. Honestly, I think the league needs to take a closer look at drug abuse, mental health, and other potential post-career issues among all players -- even if enforcers might be more prone -- rather than a knee-jerk fighting ban under the assumption it will solve any of these problems.

[dickey1331]

For me fighting is apart of hockey and I enjoy it. I'm fine with the way it is. I don't think I would be opposed to a rule change but as long as they don't ban it.


Do you really care where I sent this from?

[SPTO]

I don't think it should be completely banned but if there are fights then they should kick out the fighters after they've had their go of it.

Maybe that's the happy medium the league should look at doing.