Fighting in the NHL is making a comeback

[Skyceman]

Article in the Calgary Herald on a new type of enforcer that is still in demand:

Fighting in the NHL is making a comeback — because today's enforcers can actually play

"Eleven days after relying on skill and speed to win back-to-back Cups, Pittsburgh traded a first-rounder to the Blues for their biggest bodyguard"

“After winning a championship two years ago, we saw how much harder teams played us,” Penguins GM Jim Rutherford told Postmedia after acquiring fourth-line winger Ryan Reaves, who fought six times last season. “We ran into teams that wanted to get physical against us. We think it’s only going to become even tougher.”

Most teams still have a player who can keep the peace. Some, like the Wild (Stewart and Marcus Foligno) and the Oilers (Maroon, Milan Lucic and Zack Kassian), have two or even three who can do it. Even the Vegas Golden Knights decided they needed a fighter, choosing depth defenceman Deryk Engelland (nine fights) over Calgary’s Kris Versteeg, Troy Brouwer and Matt Stajan in the expansion draft.

“Maybe it’s being old-school, but I’ve always believed that you have to have guys who can protect your better players,” said Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau. “Smaller players want to feel bigger, and they know if they’ve got big brother around, they know they can play a little freer. When you don’t have that, you seem to get pushed around.”

In other words, teams still believe players do a better job of policing the game than officials. It’s not a new concept, even though the job description has changed slightly.

While Toronto’s Mike Babcock said the reason the Leafs have Martin in the lineup is “to keep the flies off” other skilled players, no amount of waving your hands will actually make the flies go away for good. All it means is a skilled player doesn’t have to swat at them, too. It creates peace of mind more than actual peace.

“You want your players to play. You don’t want your players to be thinking,” said Babcock. “And so those guys are here to do a job, and their job’s important.”

Said Leafs star Auston Matthews: “I think you saw last year, we had a young team, and we still have a young team. It’s still a physical game, so guys are going to get hit and guys are going to get ran. (Martin) stuck up for me a couple of times last year and it’s kind of what he does.”

[jayswin]

Good.

[CroFlames]

Good. Honestly, the lack of emotion, hatred and intimidation on most regular season nights has made many games boring.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Good. Honestly, the lack of emotion, hatred and intimidation on most regular season nights has made many games boring.

Yeah, hockey has become robotic and systematic to the point where the lack of emotion translates to a pretty boring TV presentation sport.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Good. Honestly, the lack of emotion, hatred and intimidation on most regular season nights has made many games boring.

The game has plenty of ways to display emotion, hatred and intimidation without the need to fight.


One of the things I hate about hockey is when there is a clean hit, the player that did the hitting has to fight. It is ####ing stupid.

[Kybb79]

I wish we traded for Reaves.Fighting in hockey will never go away.I think what is hurting Calgary is they are not tough enough.Kind of soft.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

The game has plenty of ways to display emotion, hatred and intimidation without the need to fight.


One of the things I hate about hockey is when there is a clean hit, the player that did the hitting has to fight. It is ####ing stupid.

I hate seeing a team's best player get smoked, clean hit or not, and no teammates taking offence to the hit and trying to send a message back to the hitter.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

The game has plenty of ways to display emotion, hatred and intimidation without the need to fight.


One of the things I hate about hockey is when there is a clean hit, the player that did the hitting has to fight. It is ####ing stupid.

This is true and we have seen it manifest itself over the last few years into wicked slashing which breaks players fingers/hands, high-sticking and other stick fouls that can cause real damage and cost players games.

No one wants to see the return of the non-talent pure goons who usually only fought one another, but fighting creeping back in to the game among players that can play it straight as well, is a very welcome development if it happens.

IMO only of course.

[Finger Cookin]

[Philly06Cup]

Fighting is stupid given that players are required to wear visors and what we know about concussions.

[868904]

Man Mike Babcock, Jim Rutherford and Bruce Boudreau know nothing. Haven't they heard, fighters are useless. Skill guys don't want tough guys on their team to protect them, they want 4 lines of just skill. The Flames lost to the Oilers on opening night because of Tanner Glass.

Losers, when will they ever learn.

[taco.vidal]

“Maybe it’s being old-school, but I’ve always believed that you have to have guys who can protect your better players,” said Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau. “Smaller players want to feel bigger, and they know if they’ve got big brother around, they know they can play a little freer. When you don’t have that, you seem to get pushed around.”

How does this protect the "better players" or "smaller players"? Pick your goon or tough guy and put him on the Flames. How is that going to protect little Johnny?

[erikk3]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

How does this protect the "better players" or "smaller players"? Pick your goon or tough guy and put him on the Flames. How is that going to protect little Johnny?

Most people looking to make a dirty hit on him would rather take a 2 minute penalty than get beat up by Ryan Reaves?

[Nsd1]

Originally Posted by erikk3

Most people looking to make a dirty hit on him would rather take a 2 minute penalty than get beat up by Ryan Reaves?

But the player that makes the hit doesn't have to fight. Make the hit, Reaves jumps you, scrum ensues, Reaves takes a roughing penalty, your team gets a power play. Not much of a deterrent.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

How does this protect the "better players" or "smaller players"? Pick your goon or tough guy and put him on the Flames. How is that going to protect little Johnny?

You can think of it this way. When Johnny gets molested and starts thinking about his safety instead of scoring, we do the same to their star so it's a saw off.

[erikk3]

Originally Posted by Nsd1

But the player that makes the hit doesn't have to fight. Make the hit, Reaves jumps you, scrum ensues, Reaves takes a roughing penalty, your team gets a power play. Not much of a deterrent.

Most NHL players have more honour/respect/pride/whatever you want to call it than that. This isn't new stuff, players have been answering for dirty hits forever.

[Backlunds_socks]

Super happy to hear. I watch hockey for entertainment, fights are entertaining along with risky plays and at times plays that result in injury.

Entertain me!

[SebC]

Originally Posted by erikk3

Most NHL players have more honour/respect/pride/whatever you want to call it than that. This isn't new stuff, players have been answering for dirty hits forever.

And now, clean ones too.

[Wyguy]

Originally Posted by 868904

Man Mike Babcock, Jim Rutherford and Bruce Boudreau know nothing. Haven't they heard, fighters are useless. Skill guys don't want tough guys on their team to protect them, they want 4 lines of just skill. The Flames lost to the Oilers on opening night because of Tanner Glass.

Losers, when will they ever learn.

And how on earth is Glass to blame? He actually played well while the rest of the team showed up.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Wyguy

And how on earth is Glass to blame? He actually played well while the rest of the team showed up.

He was making the sarcasm.