Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
I'd rather that the NHL be a place where players like Petterson can thrive. He makes the game better.
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And yet we love the physicality too. Look at the number of "post thanks" that the gifs of Bennett's two hits against Colorado garnered in the PGT.
Bennett hits Pettersson that hard down low? Same "violent" result, IMO.
Look I think Pettersson can thrive. He has been thriving through the first 5 or so games. If another development year in a lower league isn't an option, then he maybe needs to be careful about match-ups and corners until such time as he fills out a little bit.
The game can be both physical and a place where skill can thrive. All players play a part in that.
I get that there is a difference between Bennett's clean hits and the "shove down" Pettersson received. But that "shove-down" in the corner happens several times/game, IMO. If a Bennett hit on Pettersson has a violent outcomes, then clean hits start getting questioned.
Maybe that's the direction we are heading. I used to love the big line brawls and all the rest back in the day as well. Maybe we are on a track that will eventually take all contact and physicality out of the game.