[GreenLantern2814]

Here's what I don't get about the fighting arguments. Burke and his ilk will contend that without fighting, the rats will run rampant. The stick work will be out of control.

How much stick work has the threat of fighting prevented in the last 18 years. I would argue, not a single slash. Yet someone gets blown up with a clean hit and all of a sudden, we've got a full on donnybrook.

What I would say about fighting is simply this: in the course of a hockey game, there are going to be times and places where certain players need to get punched in the head. That's just the game.

Now, can you just beat people up who aren't willing combatants? No. Should you have players whose sole job is to punch faces? No. Should you be able to dance with somebody who loves you? #### yes.