Friedman: Enough Already — It's Time To End Fighting In Hockey
By Daniel Friedman
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"I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out." – Rodney Dangerfield
There's a hint of truth in every joke and, indeed, fighting has always been part of hockey. Enforcers have always taken to it, in the interest of supporting their teammates or providing a spark.
These guys are 100 percent committed to their role, and it would be asinine for me (or anyone) to question their heart or motives.
What has come into question over the last few years, however, is the future of that role. We're seeing teams cut enforcers and we're seeing more and more people calling for the removal of fighting.
That debate returned to the forefront this week in light of soon-to-be NHL phenom Connor McDavid's decision to fight and his subsequent hand injury.
Naturally, the incident itself was overblown, given the amount of hype that's been surrounding McDavid. Should he have done it? Probably not, but at the same time in no way does this affect his draft status or superstar trajectory.
Should he have been allowed to? Well, that's a different question entirely, and the safety issues run much deeper than broken hands. It's the potential head trauma that may result from repeated blows to that part of the body, specifically to the brain.
Ask any neurologist, and they'll tell you there's a huge risk factor when it comes to fighting in hockey.
I'm sick and tired of hearing about keeping "old time-hockey" alive. Enough. This is 2014; both the sport and the society around it have evolved. We now have a deeper understanding of the dangers associated with headshots and fighting than we did years ago.
Remember when hockey players didn't wear helmets? I guess today's NHLers just aren't real men for having the audacity to protect themselves from head injuries.
Thirty years from now, a generation of young hockey fans will find it hard to believe that fighting actually existed in the sport. We're becoming increasingly advanced in the medical realm and adjusting accordingly wherever it's applicable.
Not only is fighting extremely dangerous, but it's also unnecessary. The enforcer is a dying breed, regardless of how you or I feel about it.
One of the main arguments given in defense of the enforcer is that, without him, players would be more at risk; that he keeps things in check. Explain to me, then, why the number of concussions and cheap shots have been skyrocketing over the past two decades. Not only that – it's enforcers themselves who are often responsible for those concussions, because they're the ones delivering those dangerous hits.
Was Matt Cooke just doing his job when he ended Marc Savard's career? Good thing there was an enforcer on the Bruins to prevent that from happening.
Good thing other teams have enforcers, too. It really scared the heck out of Cooke when he opted to ram Erik Karlsson's head into the boards eight months later, elbow Keith Yandle in the head a month after that, elbow Evander Kane in the head a week later, and so on.
Sure, opposing tough guys got back at Cooke out of revenge. However, ultimately, that didn't deter him or keep him at bay.
Another thing to consider here is that enforcers and the star teammates they're supposed to be protecting are rarely on the ice at the same time. You don't see the Islanders putting Matt Martin on John Tavares' wing, or John Scott playing alongside Joe Thornton in San Jose.
=You'll remind me that Wayne Gretzky always had Marty McSorely by his side, and I'll respond by saying what many have trouble accepting: The game of hockey has changed dramatically since then, and continues to do so.
That's the difference in today's NHL. Now, enforcers are going after players in response to a cheap shot, as opposed to making sure it doesn't happen in the first place. Of course, the fact that they're acting in response to something means they've already failed to protect their teammate from it.
You'll tell me that, without fighting, the game would lose its toughness. I'll tell you that hockey is already plenty physical, even without fighting. There have always been plenty of hits and collisions, and that's not going to change.
Last I checked, there's no fighting in football, either. Last I checked, it's still an extremely violent sport.
And yes, hockey has lost a bit of its tougher side in recent years. It's also gained a tremendous amount in terms of overall skill level and quality of play, which is … you know … what actually matters in the sport. You win games with good goaltending, scoring depth and defense; not by throwing the most punches.
There's also the notion that fighting can give a team a boost in certain situations. I believe in momentum in hockey; I just don't think fighting generates it.
If you think about it, the game comes to a complete halt when a fight breaks out, which is kind of the opposite of momentum. Additionally, these fights often happen at times when it makes little sense to drop the gloves (i.e. two minutes into the game).
Conversely, I think a shift by your checking line with multiple clean hits and strong work along the boards and in the corners can generate momentum. Killing off a penalty at a crucial juncture in the game, making big saves – that'll also do the trick. These are things that directly contribute to the flow of play. Fighting? That's more of a sideshow.
There was a time when fighting had a place in hockey, when the complexion of the game was such that dropping the gloves made a fairly big impact. That time has passed. Now, there's more of an emphasis on speed and skill.
And you know what? There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's precisely what hockey needs in order to really expand its fan base beyond the current borders.
We tend to convince ourselves that because we find fighting in hockey to be entertaining, there's no reason why anyone else wouldn't. To the baseball, basketball or football fan, it's simply Neanderthal.
Find me someone who wasn't a hockey fan, but then got hooked just because he or she saw a fight break out. It won't be easy.
I myself have probably set the world record for the most time spent playing "NHL Hitz." I thoroughly enjoy watching movies like "Slap Shot" and "Goon," and I can definitely appreciate the kind of hockey that was once prevalent in the NHL.
That having been said, I don't think I'd miss fighting if it were to disappear from hockey altogether. Honestly, I think we're headed in that direction anyway.
It doesn't really matter what side of the fence you're on, however, because fighting in hockey is on its last legs – whether it gets banned or just gets weeded out.
Enjoy it while you still can, because it will soon be a relic of a time gone by. And, while that might be disappointing for many, it'll be better for the game of hockey in the long run.
More importantly, it'll be safer.
Follow Daniel Friedman on Twitter @DFriedmanOnNYI.
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