NHL Playoffs: The New Fight Night

12 thoughts on “NHL Playoffs: The New Fight Night”

1. Drew,

   As someone who does a lot of work in hockey, and believes that fighting in hockey is needed for some instances, but this years games have gone beyond what should be a “valid” fight to actually “goon” fights.

   If you get the chance, you should watch the new movie called “Goon”, it shows that fighting is necessary in some cases and in some cases its unnecessary. It’s the unnecessary fighting that should be taken out of the game.

2. Howard, I agree. It’s a bit like baseball’s code of conduct. But clearly the NHL has gone way beyond that.

3. In almost 100 years of play, the NHL has only had two game or practice-related deaths, both freak accidents. The NFL and NASCAR only wish they had that kind of safety record.

   Every on-ice penalty is being called, and suspensions are comign from the league office at a steady clip. The guilty are being removed from play. What else can the league do? Follow the players home and key their cars?

4. I agree with Howard. There is necessary and unnecessary fighting in hockey. Looked at another way, there is a “right” way and a “wrong” way to fight.

   I caught only a glimpse of the Flyers v. Pens game yesterday, and shook my head in disbelief at what I was seeing. Hockey has become the MMA on ice. That is a deadly combination. It won’t be too long before a player is seriously injured, if not killed, as a result of a fight on the ice.

   Even Derek Boogaard (may he rest in peace) aka “The Enforcer,” didn’t fight as dirty as some of the players this season. He knew when to stop, when to control himself. In fact, I believe he instructed other hockey players on how to “fight the right way” – so as to not take the other guy out.

   Something needs to change, and change soon.

5. Good Morning from Omaha,

   I have not been much of a hockey fan so my source of information comes from the highlights on ESPN. The talking heads at espn have also contributed to my opinion.

   I think one or two of the talking heads mentioned that if hockey wants to grow its audience beyond where it is now, they are going to have to do away with the gratuitious fighting. they point to the NCAA Hockey frozen four getting more and more popular. Yes they fight but not for the sake of fighting.

   Professional hockey is on the verge of death as a major sport and there solution seems to be more fighting which is why the sport is not growing in popularity anyway.

   Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

   Gene

6. I like it. Always have. This ain’t the Broadstreet Bullies…but it’s been so long that I think people get squeamish.

   This is nothing compared to the old days! You guys act like Crosby is Dale Hunter or something, lol. Remember Bob Probert? Chris Simon? Tie Domi? Hell, how about Jeff Odgers (anyone remember him?)? Those were goons!

   The stuff you see today is a watered down version yet everyone is still horrified. Every time I read one of these discussions I can hear Marlon Brando in my head saying: The horror…the horror…

   The Avs/Red Wings rivalry is one of my all-time favorite sports rivalries for a reason. If you remember those days then you know what I’m talking about. That’s hockey.

   Take a wild guess who the NHL’s chief disciplinarian is…? That’s right, Brendan Shanahan…wonder who he played for??

   Give it time and they’ll water it down even more. This is one of the reasons I like Canadian minor league hockey and even American league minor hockey (to an extent): they know how to mix it up.

   Know why the Avs can’t make it to the playoffs?? No goons. They get eaten alive every year because that’s how the game is played. Always has been.

   It’s not rocket science but the Avs management seems to like playing groundhog day every season.

   Just my 2 (bloody) cents.

7. Gene:

   You usually make good points but…hockey on the verge of death? Ratings are at a decade high, capacity at all but two stadiums is above 95%, youth participation and interest is soaring, several teams outdraw their NBA counterparts in the same market…if that’s the verge of death, then baseball is about to go toes up also.

   And as for “growing an audience,” the best way is the way that worked for football and basketball and is starting to work for soccer and MMA: stay true to the game and highlight the sport at its best, and make tweaks to the rules. That’s why teams in tough sports markets like LA and Chicago pack them in.

   And SJR is dead right (although I don’t quite share his fondness for the days of yore): The fighting now is nothing compared to the fighting in the 70’s and 80’s, when everyone threw down, including the snipers. In contrast, the Ottawa-Rangers series has been exciting and rather penalty-free, as have the Kings-Canucks and Blues-Sharks. The worst of the bunch – Pens-Flyers – is on the verge of a sweep because Pittsburgh is having to deal with frequent penality kills from their rough tactics and are starting frustrated fights.

   Shanny is also a great choice as the discipline czar: He knew how to drop the gloves, how to score, how to defend and how to lay down a good, hard, clean hit. He’s been mostly right with his suspension calls on hits that in the bad old days would have gone ignored.

   Many of the same people complaining about rough hockey are also complaining about the NFL coddling quarterbacks and recievers too much. You can’t have it both ways.

8. Dear Drew,

   First of all I want to say I’m sorry that I haven’t been posting with the consistancy I use to. Too much happening in my life both good and not so good. However a visit to your website I do every day. It gives me a smile even on the roughest of days.

   With today’s cartoon you made the comment that the NHL is turnign into the “Goon factory”. There I disagree only because there has been a “Goon Factor” in this sport at least since the Philadelphia Flyer’s of the 1970’s. There has been games with 100+ penalty minutes before, Who can forget the Colorado Ave player (forgot his name but not the incident) who got hit so hard his attacker faced judicial charges? I’m sure with time I can think of more incidents than these two but at 2 a.m. my mind isn’t so sharp.

   If there is a differnce now its that more games are on TV so the “gooning” is being seen more often to a national audience. Otherwise I haven’t seen much changing in the way of this sport for almost 40 years.

   All the best

   Louis.

   P.S. Had an incident at work yesterday that made me laugh and I want to share it with everyone. It was the last day to mail your taxes for this year. I actually had a customer come up to me and ask “How do you spell IRS?”

9. Hockey will never be embraced by sports fans until they stop the stupid fighting and retaliation. I get sick and tired of Old Timers saying “that’s hockey” or that some fights are justified. It’s not ever justified and it takes away from the actual skill of these players. My son played hockey through high school and I have enjoyed College Hockey for years. No fights tolerated and it’s funner to watch the the NHL thugs on Ice.

10. Mike:

    Hockey is embraced by hockey fans. The term “Sports Fans” indicates a monolithic group. I really enjoy sports – I follow Soccer, College Football, MMA and Hockey. I don’t really like Baseball, Golf or NASCAR that much. But if you put me under the umbrella of “American Sports Fan”, I don’t fit the media image of a typical fan.

11. Drew,

    I couldn’t agree with you more, and I stand by my earlier post. When I saw the video of Torres’ hit on Hossa, my first thought was: “Tonight a stretcher on the ice. If things don’t change, a body bag will be next.” Now, I realize that might be a drastic thing to say. However, if things keep going like they are, it isn’t too far from the truth.

    I love the game of hockey. Don’t get me wrong. There is both a right way and wrong way to fight. The commentary I have read, thus far, on last night’s hit to Hossa, has called it a “pre-meditated hit” against Torres. I can’t believe the refs missed it, and I pray the league penalizes Torres for his flagrant actions. Initial reports state that Hossa is going to be okay, thank God. Guess we’ll have to wait and see if there are any residual side-effects.

12. I don’t think I was clear in my previous rant so I’ll try again. My family is a hockey family. Love my Avs, DU Pioneers, and my son played club and high school hockey since he was 10. He is now 18. Hockey is a physical sport and everyone loves to see a beautiful check. If the hit on Hossa was legal, then fantastic. It wasn’t though.

    My point, stupid fighting and retaliation is ridiculous. Play the sport hard and fast but facing off to fight someone or going after someone b/c they had a hard hit on a star player in the previous game? Only morons. Hockey needs to ban fighting and retaliation. It’s not allowed in College and as a DU fan, that’s the best hockey I have watched in 8 years. Guess what it’s fast, physical, and no fighting is tolerated.