Quote:
Originally Posted by silent_jay
It may not diminish the passion or the edge(personally I think the edge would be gone), but it sure would be the end of the NHL as most people know it. It's the pussification of the game as Millbury put it, or the Pierre McGuireification of the game as he also said. Banning fighting essentially turns it into the European game, of diving, and stick work, and whining to the referee that so and so stuck someone .
We'd have a bunch of Jarko Ruttu's or Ulf Samuelson's running around like chickens with their heads cut off, because they could get away with their type of play(chickenshit) with no fear of retribution. Remember the knee job Ulfy gave Cam, then pulled the turtle when it was time to face the man who's career he tried to end?
Also how do you get fighting out of hockey? Fines? These players make millions, a few grand in fines won't stop them from dropping the gloves. Make it against the law and charge them criminally? Well then people just won't bother playing the game, I know I would have quit if they brought the law onto the ice.
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With respect, that's silly. Don Cherry talk. When rules are enforced consistently and with significant punishments, you won't have issues of "chickenshit" play.
Rugby is a great example - it's a passionate game, played with extreme physicality and far less protection from pads. But fighting results in ejection form the game, and the retaliation incidents will also get you kicked out or you will receive a lengthy penalty (like 10 minutes). Even back talking the ref will get you sin binned.
When a team loses 4 or 5 games in a row because they have players who can't control themselves and who get ejected or who get 10 minute penalties, those players won't be put on the ice by their coaches until they get the message.
The NHL has been a bunch of pussies about limiting fighting - they figure the only reason Yanks watch is for a fight or two. Market share won't drop even a percentage point in Canada if they eliminated or severely curtailed fighting.