Can't give or take a hit in the NHL nowadays

[mrusse01 0]

lately noticing this trend.....

Discuss

You haven't been watching hockey very long if you just starting noticing this.

[Chadd 916]

ya whatever happened to the cruching hit thrown a few minutes later?? the nhl is going gay way too fast

anyone else find it funny that an increase in fighting is now considered "going gay"?

[Jason Harris 31]

lately noticing this trend.....

Discuss

You haven't been watching hockey very long if you just starting noticing this.

That hit occurred during a contentious playoff series and was borderline illegal, as well, so I understand why Clark chased after McSorley.

Regarding retaliatory hits being part of hockey forever, that's not my memory from the seventies. There used to be way more hip checks thrown back then. Guys would crash to the ice, stagger to the bench, then Game On.

I agree with those who have said it's a pussification of the sport. If you can't accept a clean hit when your lack of awareness put yourself into danger, then you should play video games instead.

[Neal 41]

I agree with those who have said it's a pussification of the sport. If you can't accept a clean hit when your lack of awareness put yourself into danger, then you should play video games instead.

I agree with you, but I see Chippa's point too. It seems to me that in today's game players who throw big hits are often forced into fights. the argument seems to be that you are standing up for your teammates and making the other team aware they will have to pay a price for their physical play. You often hear about a player who instigates fights after hits that he is "making space" for his teammates. I sometimes think this means you are trying to make the other team afraid to hit that guy skating with his head down making fancy moves.

[chippa13 1844]

Dude I've watched the video a hundred times and I see the same thing over and over and over. He hits Moller....Moller gets up gets in Finger's face, then Armstrong comes skating in..I dont see at all where Finger turns and looks to drop the gloves

Finger makes the hit, stands over Moller, gives the shove of "Are we going?" and Armstrong joins the fray.

As for the other guy's comments about the cement heads of the league, I agree. I'd prefer to see a guy who can play and take care of his own business. However, fighting still has a place in the game, it helps to keep guys honest. Now, if we could just tinker with that darn instigator rule we'd be all set.

I'd rather see everyone on a team stick up for each other than one otherwise useless goon go out and "take care of business".

Sure, the guys who could hit the ice in street shoes have no place in the game, if you ask me.

[KryptOng 9]

lately noticing this trend happening more frequently.....

Discuss

You haven't been watching hockey very long if you just started noticing this.

There, I think that clarifies that I've watched more than enough hockey LOL

[tdjb 0]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=259261&amp...s=headlines_nhl

[start_today 770]

I've never really understood how fighting is sending a message to the guy who gave a good hit. I can sort of see how it gets your teammates or fans into the game, but does anyone ever leave an nhl fight worrying it might happen again?

What percent of fights have any good solid punches that do more than momentarily stun someone? Most guys leave the fights chuckling, and I've never read or heard anyone make a comment about being afraid to throw checks because they might get punched. You see way more guys "get their bell rung" by clean hockey plays than you do in fights. Fighting just strikes me as a really antiquated way to attempt to solve problems, and in in the nhl doesn't even appear to work to solve anything.

[chippa13 1844]

Ask Kessel how much more room he gets on the ice skating with guys like Lucic and Chara.

[Law Goalie 147]

What percent of fights have any good solid punches that do more than momentarily stun someone?

Fighting isn't about injuring the other guy, it's about sending a message: "When we get down to basics, I'm tougher than you." Losing a fight is an intimidating experience. The other reason they don't get hurt is because pro hockey players - even the relatively 'soft' ones - are unbelievably tough human beings.

Most guys leave the fights chuckling, and I've never read or heard anyone make a comment about being afraid to throw checks because they might get punched.

Read Ken Dryden. He's pretty honest about what his teammates said in the lockerroom. The reason you don't hear it more often is that most hockey players, in addition to being physically tough, understand that admitting to the effects of intimidation necessarily invites more. There's a lot of military and political policy based on that very idea, too.

You see way more guys "get their bell rung" by clean hockey plays than you do in fights. Fighting just strikes me as a really antiquated way to attempt to solve problems, and in in the nhl doesn't even appear to work to solve anything.

Since when is antiquity a bad thing? Oh, right - it's a generational cliche.

[Fonya 0]

I didn't read the whole topic but I definitely agree with the poster, if one guy gets caught with his head down, then get the hitter back at the next opportunity for a hit. It gets annoying to watch a stupid brawl after every hit, you don't see guys in the NFL flipping out when their star receiver gets a good hit. I think it makes the NHL look like a joke, hitting is part of the game so don't act surprised when your teammate has to pay for his own wrong doing.

[selke71 0]

Derrick Brassard was a legitimate Calder Trophy candidate until he dislocated his shoulder fighting James Neal. Now he's out for the year. Why take that risk?

[kosydar 0]

Brassard shouldn't be the one doing the fighting. There are guys on teams whose job it is to take care of that, not skilled guys.

[Chadd 916]

Brassard shouldn't be the one doing the fighting. There are guys on teams whose job it is to take care of that, not skilled guys.

I have a lot more respect for guys who are willing to do it "at the right time" as opposed to waiting for some mook to get off the bench and do all of the dirty work. That said, skill guys just need to show that they are willing from time to time in an effort to stand up for their guys, not avenge every minor situation. More of a team toughness thing than having the toughest guy in the building. I didn't see that game so I have no idea what the situation is here.

[chippa13 1844]

Agreed, guys don't have to do it all the time but they should do it at least to show that they will. A scrap used to be a right of passage into the NHL.

One of my favorite scraps was Samsonov and Kapanen.

[Chadd 916]

Agreed, guys don't have to do it all the time but they should do it at least to show that they will. A scrap used to be a right of passage into the NHL.

One of my favorite scraps was Samsonov and Kapanen.

That just sounds funny. Somewhere between a bantam-weight bout and midget wrestling.

[chippa13 1844]

Remarkably enough, it was actually a decent scrap. The reaction on the B's bench was priceless.

[k13 0]

Agreed, guys don't have to do it all the time but they should do it at least to show that they will. A scrap used to be a right of passage into the NHL.

One of my favorite scraps was Samsonov and Kapanen.

never seen that scrap, but the two names mentioned in the same sentence together remind me of Kovalchuk vs Comrie :lol:

[kosydar 0]

Or Kovalchuk and Stralman from last year's World Champs.

[k13 0]

Or Kovalchuk and Stralman from last year's World Champs.

Kovalchuk is probably the league's best hair tugger/'glove on' puncher! :lol:

[donkey87 0]

Sorry but

owns that title. :lol:

[k13 0]

Sorry but

owns that title. :lol:

:lol: touche!