Another 'pro-fighting' guy here, with my own take on it - as well as possible repercussions.
Before I start, let me say this is not a 'pro-fighting' argument, nor a 'anti-fighting' argument. I just want to make a distinction based on my own ideas.
People often call heavyweight fighters or enforcers 'goons'. I don't. Why?
There has always been 2 classes of these fighters, especially in the last decade when 'the code' between them became more apparent, and they treated one another with a bit more respect. The 70's and 80's saw the height of 'goons'. Guys with no code.
What does mean? You are crazy Calgary4Life. Those ARE goons that you are talking about!
My argument has always been this.
The heavyweight enforcer has always carried the toughest job on the team. Knowing he is going to play 'x' team who carries 'this big tough guy', and knowing he has to fight. Worse yet, something happened last game, and he knows he has to go out there and 'do something' - either him or his team did something against 'the code', or the other team did it. Either way, he has to answer for it.
That's tough enough. Read about most of these enforcers, and that is one common theme - the anticipation of having to do something against someone even weeks in advance. That is a lot of pressure. Your job is on the line. Your teammates' respect is on the line. Your coach expects you to fulfill your role on the team - you are useless if you don't fill your role, just as useless as a goal scorer who suddenly can't find the back of the net, or a goalie that is letting in beach-balls.
Now, he also has to remain controlled during the game, regardless of what happens. He steps onto the ice on edge, knowing he is going to have to literally battle with another guy using his fists - trying to hit someone as hard and as often as possible to end it quickly, and he knows he is going to get hit hard and often as well, possibly getting injured in the process.
He has to remain controlled enough not to hurt that guy unduly. To not 'lose it' and keep on throwing when his partner is in a vulnerable situation. Other guys on the team will try and goad him into taking a bad penalty. He has to remain controlled through all of that. McSorely got a lifetime ban. The league wants to reduce his role - if not completely eliminate it. He also doesn't want to be the guy that ends another guy's career. Believe it or not - he does not want to be 'that guy'.
There were not so many 'enforcers' back in the 80's when I was watching. There were a lot of outright goons.
They would lose it. They would jump guys. Sucker-punch guys. Kick guys. Jump on non-fighters. Heck, I love Tim Hunter - and I will forever argue that without him, Calgary would never have been able to get past those Oilers - but even though I loved the guy, some of the things he did back in the day made me cringe, and dislike it.
What Nurse did was goon someone. Complete goon job. Lost control. Made a bad decision. Jumped a guy who wasn't expecting it, and continued an assault on someone who was not even able to defend himself. That is not a fight. That is not an 'answer' to anything. That is a complete goon move. That is not the move of an enforcer sticking up for a teammate, or having respect for a fellow player. What he should have done is 'jumped him' by keeping his gloves on, bear-hugging him, pushing him and face-washing him - get the guy to get ready for the fight - and then they both throw down their gloves.
What he did was a complete goon job. He wasn't enforcing anything. Just gooning.
I am a guy who always loved the fighting aspect of hockey. I am someone that has always completely hated goons or goon moves.
The NHL wants to eliminate fighting completely (or at least, keep it to an absolute minimum). I will not agree or disagree with that sentiment.
Where I think they screw up is in disciplining these 'attempt to injure' events - especially ones that are so calculated. Predatory hits to the head I can at least somewhat understand at times. Things happen fast. Players adjust a bit at full speed. Bad decisions are made in a split-second - often less. The NHL has been doing a better job (not great, but definitely a HUGE step in the right direction in my opinion) of eliminating that in the game.
But then they go and give a 3 game suspension? I wrote above that now there is history on Nurse, and therefore the next time this idiot does this again, it will be longer. I don't think that is good enough.
This wasn't a split-second decision.
Nurse had lots of time to react to this. Bump Polak. Challenge him. Facewash him.
You don't throw down your mitts at the last second and start throwing haymakers.
Most importantly, you don't continue throwing them when you realize the other guy is not fighting back, and hasn't even been able to remove his mitts.
Now, what precedent does this set?
The NHL wants to remove fighting - they definitely want the heavyweights gone. Did McGrattan ever do this? This is uglier than any fight McGrattan was in that I know of. Polak is very, very lucky he wasn't seriously hurt. Bloodied, definitely.. but it could have been a lot of worse. I would say the result is often much worse.
3 games?
If I am San Jose's GM, do I think that is enough? Does it end there? If I am the coach on that team, do I think that is enough? Does it end there? If I am one of the players on that team, do I think that is enough?
Events like these is what makes teams think twice about not carrying a 'fighter'. Events like these often create line brawls on the next game - or have guys run each other. Events like these pull the NHL back into the 80's.
Now, this is just one event, and it isn't like it will be some catalyst that is suddenly going to undo the last decade+ of gradual elimination of the enforcer role, but the NHL got it wrong here I think.
I can understand the 20 game suspension on Wideman if nothing else than to make sure that message is sent to every single player in the game. I think that message was 'loud and clear' - regardless of the circumstances, that message was sent.
3 games for what Nurse got? I don't think that is much of a message. I don't think Polak feels it was much of a message. I don't think his teammates feel it was a message. I don't think the coach or GM felt it either. Maybe it is just me - and if it is, so be it. I just don't think a team that has traditionally carried a heavyweight enforcer, and was one of the last teams not to carry one - is satisfied that the league did enough.
That was a chicken-#### move by Nurse, and he had time to think it through. It wasn't a split-second decision that happened at high speed. He had a reasonable amount of time to decide on his course of action. That has no place in hockey.
Some of you probably think I am a bit overboard here. Maybe you guys are right and I am. This is just what I think.
And I am a huge fan of hockey fights.
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