What you're describing is a fantasy. It's kind of like saying that we should allow speeding for responsible people doing it for a good reason. Reality just doesn't work that way.
As long as fighting is commonplace, there will be specialist fighters AKA goons. As long as fighting is considered an accepted part of the entertainment package, there will be staged fights.
Generally when someone suggests their ideal version of something which is not in tune with reality it is indeed considered fantasy. Thank you for pointing out what is glaringly obvious.
Aside from that, instituting a limit on fights would not eliminate fight "specialists" but it would eliminate those whose sole job is to fight, those who carry very little value outside of fighting. That's the way to go.
Easy solution is use the use the intent to injure penalty on moves like that. Bam 5 minutes. That should make players think twice.The NHL was very lucky last night.
Agreed on the NHL getting lucky last night. Can you imagine if Bouma had landed head first and broke his neck? Today, the top story in North America would be how hockey screwed up again (like the Bertuzzi incident). The fact that the NHL even allows these takedowns to take place is a joke IMO.
Easy solution is use the use the intent to injure penalty on moves like that. Bam 5 minutes. That should make players think twice.The NHL was very lucky last night.
5 minutes AND a game misconduct! Moves like that shouldn't be tolerated in the NHL.
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I don't have a problem with what Wilson did before that. Yes, it 'sucks' that you have to answer the bell for a clean hit, but I would expect the Flames to do the same. You stick up for one another out there, and when a guy gets run (and especially injured), clean or not, you send them a message. Perfectly acceptable I think.
The takedowns.. those are just so damn stupid and dangerous. I would like automatic suspensions being given out.
It's mind-numbingly stupid to not punish someone because no one got hurt. How friggin dense does this league have to be? First, no punishment (other than fake punishment) on Kessel for his lumberjack act, then crap like this from this Wilson punk. Shanny needs to de-insert his cranium from his rectum soon. Everyone's all up in arms about Parros and Orr for that fight (and the injury that I really think was accidental), but the result would have been just as bad and intentional had Bouma's melon hit the ice.
This is why attempted murder is still a crime. Not saying it's on par, just as an example that trying to do something and not succeeding should still be as big of a crime as trying to and succeeding.
How the league keeps missing the point on what is a dangerous play, when they are former players.... is really beyond me.
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Yeah I made note of it too. Ever since they made that helmet off rule I thought a takedown rule would be way better. Also complete BS that there was no instigator there.
Aside from that, instituting a limit on fights would not eliminate fight "specialists" but it would eliminate those whose sole job is to fight, those who carry very little value outside of fighting. That's the way to go.
I think it's wishful thinking that we could ever come up with a set of rules that only allows the "right" kind of fights. As long as it's not straight up forbidden, players and teams will be coming up with ways to go around the rules, and referees and the league will go out of their way to interpret the rules so that as little as possible will actually change.
I am not arguing whether he won over the fans or not, I was simply using it as an example of taking a hit within the context of our discussion.
As a fan I fricken loved the fight. As a hockey analyst on a message board he should have taken the hit and moved on.
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I think it's wishful thinking that we could ever come up with a set of rules that only allows the "right" kind of fights. As long as it's not straight up forbidden, players and teams will be coming up with ways to go around the rules, and referees and the league will go out of their way to interpret the rules so that as little as possible will actually change.
If you limit fights to 5 per season, and follow it up with a large suspension, you can absolutely bet that you eliminate MOST of the staged type of fights. There is little use for an enforcer who can only do his job 5 times over the course of 82 games.
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Anyone else remember when people were terrified at the thought of drafting Tom Wilson? Kind of ironic that he goes to a team like the capitals and is playing in the show already. Would he/ Could he make the flames?
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I think the rule should be if you use your arms or legs to take out your opponent's legs (either a slew-foot or an MMA tackle), you get a 5 minute match penalty, game misconduct, and disciplinary hearing.
Also, if you punch your opponent after he has fallen to the ice, you get a 2 minute unsportsmanlike penalty, and if you throw more than one punch on a down player, you get 5.
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Easy solution is use the use the intent to injure penalty on moves like that. Bam 5 minutes. That should make players think twice.The NHL was very lucky last night.
Couldn't agree more - and supplemental discipline as well - no place in game for that...
And also agree that there needed to be an instigator penalty there as well
I think the rule should be if you use your arms or legs to take out your opponent's legs (either a slew-foot or an MMA tackle), you get a 5 minute match penalty, game misconduct, and disciplinary hearing.
Also, if you punch your opponent after he has fallen to the ice, you get a 2 minute unsportsmanlike penalty, and if you throw more than one punch on a down player, you get 5.
I couldn't agree more. Automatic 10 games for leaving the bench, even if you don't really end up throwing, and looking the other way on takedowns? Especially with all of the lip service toward head injuries. These are easy to identify and easy to penalize severely. This isn't MMA or street fighting. When a guy is hurt, or generally can't continue, most hockey fighters let up and allow the officials to step in. Looking the other way on these reckless moves is an embarrassment to the NHL. Even people that argue for the entertainment value of fighting can't enjoy that.
First time I've seen Iggy fight without taking off his helmet like the gentlemen he is and always has been. I hate that the League is messin' with Iggy's mojo with a stupid ass rule.
Dirty bush league move that has no place in the game if your going to fight then fight not slam a guy to the ice because you cant beat him standing up.
First time I've seen Iggy fight without taking off his helmet like the gentlemen he is and always has been. I hate that the League is messin' with Iggy's mojo with a stupid ass rule.
He did take the helmet off sometimes, but not always
Last edited by Superfraggle; 10-05-2013 at 01:15 PM.
Just saw the Bouma's fight and wow that is ridiculous. He just blatantly grabbed his pants and flipped him. Bouma could've been seriously injured on the play.
What I hated about the Wilson/Bouma fight was that not many people noticed that it wasn't even Bouma's hit that injured the player. If you watch closely, his skate blade popped out, and when he tried to push off, his foot gave. His knee injury had more to do with poor equipment than a check.
