Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
As I said, I believe if you took body contact out of the NHL the league is done. You might disagree but I seriously think half the fan base walks. Then somebody else would start a league with hits and the NHL would be hooped. So many fans relate to physical play, Flyer fans, Boston fans, hell the Preds fans call their city Smashville. Taking body checking out would not evolve the game, it would kill it
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Intimidation and physical play by way of heavy hits are just as much as part of the game as skill and shooting. It doesn’t have to be a dirty crushing hit nor is the purpose just to separate the man from the puck.
For example when the puck is on your stick and you see Lucic or even a player like Forbort coming at you. There is an element which will cause some players to not go hard in the corner or corral the puck. If you do, there is a heavy big clean crushing hit coming.
That is a part of the game. Just as an open ice hit to ensure an opposing player doesn’t feel they can drop their head to make a toe drag.