[Calgary4LIfe]

Hockey is still a physical sport. Fighting is still very much part of the game. Some people may look forward to a day when hockey isn't so violent, but these wishes don't change the fact that it is violent. Intimidation is a thing in hockey. Players overwhelmingly want fighting to remain a part of the game. Most fans as well.


I shake my head at some people who look at a guy like Reaves and think: "Just a useless face puncher". No, that's not correct. Reaves is a pretty good skater and very good forechecker, and he helps his teams win. The goons have been forced out of the league already. Reaves is not just a goon. He is an effective hockey player who has been shown to change the momentum of a game and has also recently been shown to change the momentum of a series.


Also, people forget guys players on the Flames specifically talking about having a guy that can look out for them on the ice. Iginla spoke about it a number of times. Backlund spoke about it a few times, even citing that when you have a guy like that on your team, you play like you are 2 inches taller. What does that mean? It means you can go out there and play with confidence rather than having to worry about stuff. That's beneficial, no?


The NHL - management and players - have no inclination on really making an impact on concussions. If they did, the center line would be reintroduced for the two-line pass slowing things down considerably. That would take a lot of the concussions away.


I don't think the game needs fighting cleaned-up. It has become very sterile and mostly played without emotion. You 'clean it up' more, and run the risk of reducing it to something else. I am not sure I would like that something else. I choose to watch NHL hockey. I choose not to watch ringette. Want to practically eliminate concussions? Make NHL hockey a lot more like ringette.



At any rate, labeling Reaves as just a 'face puncher' is completely discrediting his ability as a hockey player, and discrediting his contribution to his team. He is a sought-after hockey player because of the entirety of the ability he has. Otherwise, you would see a bunch of goons out there like we had even 10 years ago. Reaves would have gotten beat up routinely then. He is a professional hockey player.