Why We Fight - Article by Brandon Prust

[justing]

Great article about the role of enforcers in the league by Prust.
Timely since it seems like the era of heavy weights like Big Ern is over.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/why-we-fight/

[devo22]

I'm currently reading Bob McKenzies book and there's a whole chapter devoted to Prust and fighting in general. Not the strongest chapter (that's the one about Sheldon Keefe), but still very interesting. He mentions in there that he injured his arm during in his last season with the Rangers and that the doctors advised him to have surgery, but that would have been season-ending in a contract year. So he didn't have the surgery and now he can't bend his finger any more as a result. Crazy stuff.

[burn_baby_burn]

It's amazing how the lack of fighting has changed my attitude about the NHL. I used to despise every team. Now, outside of the Oilers and Canucks, I'm pretty neutral with the rest of the league. Maybe I'm just maturing in my older age.

[saillias]

I'm kinda - no, really disturbed by Prust's mentality of, well I need to make a fight to change momentum in this series, but no one wants to fight so I will start playing dirty to force a fight - intentional late hit -> broken jaw. But it's the rats who are the problem? RIght Prust.

[handgroen]

Man is there anything better than the player's tribune right now?
heard somewhere that derek jeter is somehow involved. if so hats off this is compelling stuff.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by saillias

I'm kinda - no, really disturbed by Prust's mentality of, well I need to make a fight to change momentum in this series, but no one wants to fight so I will start playing dirty to force a fight - intentional late hit -> broken jaw. But it's the rats who are the problem? RIght Prust.

Except that is not what Prust said at all. He was trying to create energy with a big hit, and admitted that he threw the hit late, but at no point did he say that hitting a player late or causing an injury was his mentality or intention.

[terminator]

I don't care; players are there for my entertainment... so entertain me. Fight, score goals, big damaging hits.......... I really could careless what it is.

[Gundo]

Prust is such a beauty

[Tyler]

Remember, we let this guy go... TWICE.

Still shake my head at that. Can you imagine Prust, Nystrom and Bouma on a line??

[ForeverFlameFan]

That website always gives good articles.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by handgroen

Man is there anything better than the player's tribune right now?
heard somewhere that derek jeter is somehow involved. if so hats off this is compelling stuff.

From my understanding it's Jeter's website. I found Logan Couture's piece very interesting. Going to read this one right now.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by handgroen

Man is there anything better than the player's tribune right now?
heard somewhere that derek jeter is somehow involved. if so hats off this is compelling stuff.

Jeter launched it last year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Players_Tribune

The Tribune was launched in 2014, by Derek Jeter, a former Major League Baseball Player.[5] The current Editor-in-Chief is Gary Hoenig. Partners and Napier was named their agent of record, serving as the driving force behind all brand activities and development.[6] Excel Sports Management is a founding partner[7] and Legendary Entertainment has provided financial backing as well.[8]

[N-E-B]

I love fighting in hockey...

But I'm so glad the days of the enforcers are at they're end. Fights are better when they happen in the heat of the moment by team captains or 4th line energy guys who can actually play.

As much as I loved him as a person, Big Ern was painful to watch as a player... And no one will ever be as bad as Westgarth...

The guys who fight now may not be the big heavyweights, but at least they add more than just fights to their teams.

[Dr. Doom]

I love how everyone thinks fighting is on its way out.

Like frosty the snowman, it will be back!

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Dr. Doom

I love how everyone thinks fighting is on its way out.

Like frosty the snowman, it will be back!

The traditional enforcer will not be back, for the sole reason that he is detrimental to the success of his team. There is no going back in the evolution of the game.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by crapshoot

The traditional enforcer will not be back, for the sole reason that he is detrimental to the success of his team. There is no going back in the evolution of the game.

You can make a case that the big enforcers are detrimental to a team now, but in the last era of hockey I would argue it was a necessity. The Oilers used to not only outscore the Flames in the early 80's, but they would intimidate and often leave players beat down to a bloody pulp. Tim Hunter was a huge asset back in that era, and I will argue that he was a huge reason for the Flames' success then.

I actually like reading/listening to what NHL players have to say with respect to fighting - and even enforcers. I do think it is extremely difficult to statistically quantify the benefits. Does sticking up for a team mate today really deter future infractions tomorrow, even by other teams? Prust makes a point that it does. How can you go about measuring it? When you hear Burke talk about how teams started hitting the Flames less after he started carrying 2 heavyweights (McGrattan and Westgarth), was that really true? Was the benefit (getting hit less) worth utilizing two guys who had below average hockey skills? Burke thought so, many didn't think so. Was a big part of the Flames' turnaround last year helped by carrying two guys that 'protected' the team? Players like Backlund stated that they felt 2" taller out there. Did that translate into more confidence in games, and better performance? How do you even go about measuring that? I think it raises very good discussion.

Is the era officially over? It appears so. Will it return? It might, it might not. Going without an enforcer might be just a fad for now, or you may see teams once again start to bring in enforcers. Only time will tell, but it does seem that in this current era, the heavyweights are becoming obsolete, and the longer they stay out of the game, the more difficult it will be for teams to bring that role back to the team. I do think that at least for a long time, the heavyweights are through.

I think a part of that is that the league is more talented now than it has ever been. Perhaps expansion will be a factor in diluting the talent pool just enough to allow some enforcers back in. Maybe dilution will not make any difference at all. I do think that the generally fans still love it - sounded pretty loud when Engelland fought Gazdic anyways. Will be interesting to see if the NHL continues going in the direction it is currently in (getting the fighters out of the league) and if so, how deep it continues to go (will fighting be completely eliminated?).

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by crapshoot

The traditional enforcer will not be back, for the sole reason that he is detrimental to the success of his team. There is no going back in the evolution of the game.

Thankfully things don't work that way.... You can't allow the game to evolve but yet lock the enforcer into a "tradition" box. As the game evolves so will the enforcer. Like in all things in life things go around in cycles as as other copy what they perceives as the route for success. As the game leans more more right the greater the need for the left will open up

All it takes is one dynamic player to dominate the game with whatever skill set he has to create a need from the pack that follows. One Bob Probert emerges and the arms race is once again on. But this player won't be like those in past just like todays skilled isn't the same "traditional" skilled player from 20 years ago as well

The enforcer roles isn't done till fighting has been eliminated from the game, right now the way the rules have been structured has handcuffed what once was... this is not a negative thing, it just now is the time when evolution can really happen

The role as you see it is not what the same role as I see it, we do not get to label what is and isn't a traditional enforcer because after all, reading this article Prust indeed see's his role as an enforcer even through he may not fit in your box as a traditional one


Edited to add: One thing I never understand is how people say the game is faster and more skilled today but yet they don't see that the enforcer will also be faster and more skilled. The need to play in the NHL at any cost will always be there for that borderline player... that player will be a much faster and skilled player from those in the past and one day make the decision that learning to protect he teammates might help him make the cut.... the bar rises for everyone

[craigwd]

Prust just took the standard talking points (mention "rats", the code etc etc) and checked all the boxes. And it still makes no sense.

I'm supposed to feel good that he seriously injured his good friend?

And the beauties:
"Even just by turning down a fight, the rats lose momentum for their team" - by staying out of the box and ahead on the scoreboard?

"what happens when the rest of the league sees that hit and we don’t do anything about it" - probably nothing.

It seriously sounds like Prust has mental problems.

[kingkahuna]

And the beauties:
"Even just by turning down a fight, the rats lose momentum for their team" - by staying out of the box and ahead on the scoreboard?
It didn't work very well when there were arguably a few rats on the Canucks a few years ago in the Cup final who turned the momentum in that series in a big way. I'm sure the refs notice it as well.

"what happens when the rest of the league sees that hit and we don’t do anything about it" - probably nothing.
Do the same thing again in a big game?

[RougeUnderoos]

Prust refers to Dale Hunter as an "enforcer".

Hunter was never an enforcer. A tough guy to be sure, but he's gotta be one of the dirtiest players ever to play in the NHL.

There was an actual enforcer on most every team in those days who could have pounded the snot out of him. It didn't stop him from being dirty.