Good Ol' Hockey Fights (soccer, MMA, star, league)

[PostSecularist]

I like hockey; but I just find the hockey fights funny and out of place in a major league team sport. I understand the history and practice of it, but still... is the NHL trying to capture some of the MMA glory?

[BigSwede]

Since there hardly is any fights anymore I would say no.
Thanks to the idiot Gary Bettman.

[jazzy jeff 11]

Originally Posted by BigSwede

Since there hardly is any fights anymore I would say no.
Thanks to the idiot Gary Bettman.

Gary Bettman is single handily tearing apart the NHL. Now there's talks that OT make become 3 on 3 and longer. Yeah right! That wont fly with the fans

[Giesela]

I'm not saying I want to go back to the bad ol days but I think the fights are important....and sort of enjoyable once in a while.
IT AIN'T SOCCER ON SKATES!

[Interpol76]

Originally Posted by Giesela

I'm not saying I want to go back to the bad ol days but I think the fights are important....and sort of enjoyable once in a while.
IT AIN'T SOCCER ON SKATES!

I play both sports, and have for years, and they are quite similar. Both are very physical, free flowing sports that require quick decision making on the fly. Soccer has no doubt made me a better hockey player, and hockey has made me a better soccer player. Both are great sports, and unfortunately highly underrated in this country.

As far as fights go, I think alot of teams are starting to realize that having an additional goal scorer or putting a good, smart potential goal scoring defenseman on the point is alot more effective than having some talentless goon out there starting fights. I can't really blame teams en masse for adopting this philosophy over the last decade or so.

[beenhereandthere]

If every team thought about fighting, the way Detroit does, I think that would help the NHL. Too many teams use it as a tactic, which turns me off a little. A crunching check or a highlight reel goal, can't fire a team up more than 2 goons trying to get their team going?
Detroit doesn't use it as a tactic, only as self defense.

[DrummerBoy]

I hope the NHL never stops letting the one-on one fights happen once in awhile.
I mean, hey, what's cooler than a dude throwin' down his gloves and stick after a nasty check, and saying, in a Canadian accent, "You wanna go, eh?"

[KoobleKar]

Used at the right time, a fight definitely can change the momentum of a game.

Also, when some cheap-shot team or guy is taking runs at your goalie or a star player (as THEIR tactic), you MUST stick up for your teammates!

[TKramar]

Montreal police started a criminal investigation Thursday into the on-ice hit by Boston's Zdeno Chara that left the Canadiens' Max Pacioretty injured.

Question: isn't this just a part of the game, just like the quarterback sack?

[Ohiogirl81]

Only in Montreal ... These are the people that riot in the streets after an everyday win. Whatever.