Yzerman, Shero and Rutherford want to explore eliminating fighting

[RyZ]

I am not with the vocal minority as I believe fighting is a big part of the game, for fans and players alike. At some point this season Mcgrattan and Macintyre are going to square off and no matter if it is at the Dome or in Rexall the fans are gong to blow the roof off the building. It will likely be the most talked about part of the game and there wont be a single person sitting on their hands.

These guys know the risks and are handsomely compensated for that risk. Most fans, players and "hockey people" seem to love it. It would be a crime to take it out of the game...... For me anyway.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Phil Russell

At some point in time, maybe tomorrow, maybe in five years, maybe in ten, an NHL player is going to be critically injured in a fight. It will happen. At that point, fighting will be banned. The NHL needs to decide if it is best to ban fighting before this happens, on its own terms, or on the back of this tragic and damning event. The choice seems obvious.

At some point in time an NHL player is going to be critically injured from a big hit...oh wait, that has already happened multiple times. Again, if the issue is player safety then eliminate big hits.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

Maybe some people don't like seeing others suffer brain damage for entertainment purposes.

Then I suggest you give up watching contact sports.

[Phil Russell]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

At some point in time an NHL player is going to be critically injured from a big hit...oh wait, that has already happened multiple times. Again, if the issue is player safety then eliminate big hits.

Apples and oranges. Fighting is qualitatively different than body checking which is a part of other sports and is a lot easier to justify as central to the sport itself. Hey, I like a good hockey fight but as soon as there is a serious injury or death it will be gone, guaranteed.

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Then I suggest you give up watching contact sports.

I'll be sure to give your suggestion the consideration it would deserve coming from a sadistic self-admitted troll.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by Phil Russell

At some point in time, maybe tomorrow, maybe in five years, maybe in ten, an NHL player is going to be critically injured in a fight. It will happen. At that point, fighting will be banned. The NHL needs to decide if it is best to ban fighting before this happens, on its own terms, or on the back of this tragic and damning event. The choice seems obvious.

If the helmet comes off in a fight, and the person falls backward or to the side like Parros did, without ability to protect himself, you have the right conditions for a death like Bill Masterton's.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

I'll be sure to give your suggestion the consideration it would deserve coming from a sadistic self-admitted troll.

You are the one who said you did not believe in watching sports that can cause brain damage. Nice response there though, real mature.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Then I suggest you give up watching contact sports.

I'll flip that argument on you. Why don't we give them swords instead of sticks and award points based on concussions and blood spilled?

What you're saying is if a sport is inherently dangerous we shouldn't aim to decrease the risks?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I'll flip that argument on you. Why don't we give them swords instead of sticks and award points based on concussions and blood spilled?

What you're saying is if a sport is inherently dangerous we shouldn't aim to decrease the risks?

No, what I am saying is that WilderPegasus said "Maybe some people don't like seeing others suffer brain damage for entertainment purposes." Ok, Scott Stevens scrambled Eric Lindros's brains. Did WilderPegasus stop watching hockey? How about Cooke on Marc savard? Nope, he is obviously still following the game. Any contact sport has plays where others suffer brain damage at times in a game that is being played for entertainment purposes. Right? So I cannot understand how he can make that post while being a hockey fan. I actually was the one who suggested eliminating the big body checks so not sure how that does not work with decreasing the risks.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Personally I could care less if fighting stays or not but somebody has to argue the other side.

Ryan Leslie, is that you?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No, what I am saying is that WilderPegasus said "Maybe some people don't like seeing others suffer brain damage for entertainment purposes." Ok, Scott Stevens scrambled Eric Lindros's brains. Did WilderPegasus stop watching hockey? How about Cooke on Marc savard? Nope, he is obviously still following the game. Any contact sport has plays where others suffer brain damage at times in a game that is being played for entertainment purposes. Right? So I cannot understand how he can make that post while being a hockey fan.

I am a hockey fan. I enjoy fights. I enjoy watching big hits. Doesn't mean I can't support the change.

Is that a difficult concept?

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

You are the one who said you did not believe in watching sports that can cause brain damage. Nice response there though, real mature.

I said no such thing. If you can't improve your reading ability to a level that you can understand what I've posted you should probably stop replying to my posts.

My apologies if your reading issues are a result of hockey fights you've been in.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by mikeecho

Ryan Leslie, is that you?

No, I can see both sides of the argument. I am just not buying the eliminate fighting argument when it is not even that large of a contributer to injuries in hockey. Staged fighting disrupts the flow of the game argument? Sure, sign me up.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

I said no such thing. If you can't improve your reading ability to a level that you can understand what I've posted you should probably stop replying to my posts.

My apologies if your reading issues are a result of hockey fights you've been in.

Holy god man your post is right up here on the page, that is EXACTLY what you said. Don't try and backpeddle and cut the insult b.s.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No, what I am saying is that WilderPegasus said "Maybe some people don't like seeing others suffer brain damage for entertainment purposes." Ok, Scott Stevens scrambled Eric Lindros's brains. Did WilderPegasus stop watching hockey? How about Cooke on Marc savard? Nope, he is obviously still following the game. Any contact sport has plays where others suffer brain damage at times in a game that is being played for entertainment purposes. Right? So I cannot understand how he can make that post while being a hockey fan. I actually was the one who suggested eliminating the big body checks so not sure how that does not work with decreasing the risks.

Those examples are two of the most disgusting plays in hockey and also have no place in the game. The turning point for me was watching Dion nearly kill Okposo in a frickin preseason game. I hate those hits as much or more than fighting but doesn't mean I'll stop watching because I love the game even though I hate parts of it.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

This thread and the general consensus to remove fighting from hockey are just downright bizarre to me. Does this board really consist of that many new age pussbags or are people just afraid to admit they like fighting? Does this board represent the average hockey fan's opinion, has the public opinion about hockey fights really shifted that rapidly?

I love fighting and the roughness of hockey. I even like staged fights. It's entertainment folks. Millions of people risk their health and safety far worse in other industries every day and 'insurance rates' aren't stopping anything. Firemen, road construction workers, roughneck's, police, heavy equipment operators etc. face much higher risk of life threatening/physically debilitating injuries or illness than do hockey players and these are average joe's making average cash, not millions.

Maybe I ended up on a Canuck's board by mistake.

Jarome fighting that ginger kid from Dallas last year was in my top 5 Flames highlights of the entire season.

Each of those professions have unions that have taken whatever steps possible over the years to fight for the least amount of risk possible, while understanding that the jobs themselves may be inherently dangerous.

They are NOT comparable to hockey players deciding to punch each other because someone else on their team hit someone else on the other team.

As for the entertainment aspect, at what point does entertainment trump player safety?

Gladiator fights were pretty popular. So is dog fighting and other animal sports, yet they are generally regarded as pretty abhorrent today.

But hey, who cares if the guy has to live in a dark room for the rest of his life as long as we get those two minutes of excitement, eh?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I am a hockey fan. I enjoy fights. I enjoy watching big hits. Doesn't mean I can't support the change.

Is that a difficult concept?

No, not at all. What puzzles me is how you can support the change for player safety when:
a) Big hits are a much bigger problem
b) Those players make their living off that part of the game, it is not like they are forced to fight. It is an adult choice.

Would you support the end of big hits if that discussion came up in the NHL for player safety reasons? I am curious.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No, not at all. What puzzles me is how you can support the change for player safety when:
a) Big hits are a much bigger problem
b) Those players make their living off that part of the game, it is not like they are forced to fight. It is an adult choice.

Would you support the end of big hits if that discussion came up in the NHL for player safety reasons? I am curious.

Hits like Stevens on Lindros would result in a suspension now. Those hits absolutely need to be eliminated

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Does this board really consist of that many new age pussbags or are people just afraid to admit they like fighting?

IMO a pussbag is a person that takes delight in other's risking their well being for their own selfish entertainment reasons. Sure is easy to say when you don't have the prospects of blurred eyesight and headaches for the rest of your life. If I want to watch a good fight I will watch boxing or MMA. I like to watch hockey for you know.....hockey.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Those examples are two of the most disgusting plays in hockey and also have no place in the game. The turning point for me was watching Dion nearly kill Okposo in a frickin preseason game. I hate those hits as much or more than fighting but doesn't mean I'll stop watching because I love the game even though I hate parts of it.

Fair enough, would you support taking those big hits out of the game though?
I mean with player size and speed in the game today should we be considering taking out the line em up intentional big hit?