Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperMatt18
I do think the league does need to do a better job eliminating the blatant headshots and dirty plays from the game but at some point the threat of injury and concussion needs to become an inherent risk of playing the game and the players need to accept that they are taking a risk to play.
I feel like any player joining the league today should be 100% aware of the risks they are taking to play hockey - and they need to make the decision if they are willing to take those risks to be an NHL hockey player. And IMO that is on the NHLPA to ensure the players have all the information and details available to them.
It's much like choosing to be a wrestler / MMA fighter / or a boxer. Those athletes all know that they are getting into a dangerous sport and that there are going to be repercussions from participating in the sport but understand that in order to get the compensation that they want they will have to take that risk.
If you speak to most ex-players and current players they want hitting and fighting to remain part of the game. If the players that play the sport are comfortable with that and are willing to take those risks then the physicality should remain in the game. Not to say the league shouldn't take steps to make the game safer where possible (preferably without drastically changing the whole fabric of the sport) but everyone involved needs to understand the risks involved with what they are doing.
Hell I got a concussion in a Co-Ed CSSC Flag Football game this year. Jumped up to make a catch, kinda got caught up with my own team mate in the air, and smacked my head on the ground when I landed. It was a risk I took and I didn't blame anybody or CSSC for it.
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Yes but did anyone see it and start petitioning to have jumping removed from your CSSC flag football game???
Honestly, this is absolutely correct.
Professional Hockey Players are responsible to make their own decisions, they can either play, understanding the risks and rewards, or not play.
People who want to remove hitting from the game are speaking on behalf of people who they ASSUME share their opinion without ever asking for it.
Jiri and Flash are both assuming that Compher, or anyone else who gets injured playing professional hockey, would want hitting removed without actually considering the opinions of the people on who's behalf they are arguing.
And do you know what happens when you assume?