Why fights are allowed at NHL?

Answer 1

Historically, fighting is part of this beautiful and most exciting spectator sport. The part of fighting evolved thru pure aggression and defense of their fellow teammate(s). In a way, they're protecting a valuable asset to the team and want to send a message to opposing teams looking to ruin a good investment. Many teams don't like to see opposing teams with recognizable characters taking cheap shots or trying to intentionally injure star players.

Often, teams will carry at least one Goon in case of an emergency or for protection. When there's a scuffle, most fighters know the etiquette and drop their gloves to go at it one-on-one. They all recognize it's part of the game and their role on a team.

On the other hand, a sport that lacks fighting etiquette is Baseball and their players totally make their sport look bad when everyone charges the mound and take cheapshots at one another. It's despicable to see these under-athletic guys take sissy slaps at one another. Maybe in Baseball, fighting is banned because of their way of fighting is so ugly....

Answer 2

well we all say it's part of the game but realistically going back to almost to the begining of the NHL, the league always felt that fighting was a better alternative to regular stick violence...
According to the CBC television documentary, Hockey: A People's History, it wasn't odd for many players to get seriously hurt and apparently it wasn't strange for at least one or two deaths to occur yearly because of stick swinigng incidents.
Everyone has to realize that as fast as the game of hockey is and with the many battles for the puck along boards or in front of the net that tempers will flare...
The NHL long ago came up with the idea of allowing players to fight but it seemed more like a trade off. The league back then felt allowing hand to hand fighting was a far more better solution than letting players swing their sticks freely like swords...it's hard to believe though but ask many of old time players today and they would tell you that when fighting came into the sport way back then, stick infraction injuries were clearly down.
I am sure many of you wonder will fighting ever stay or will it be banished from hockey but i can guarantee that this is one subject that the NHL will be afraid to touch for many years.

Answer 3

Fighting is not allowed in the NHL Mario. Players who fight are penalized with a major penalty (5 minutes in the penalty box) and a major penalty plus a game misconduct for the second offense. There are mixed feelings here... The NHL is trying to discourage it and rule changes reflect that. Canadians feel that it is a part of the game and should continue to be allowed. Many fans seem to enjoy these scuffles... I do not like it but it is going to happen as long as the penalty for fighting is not too severe. The rule emphasis in the past year and a half has made an enforcer almost obsolete.

Answer 4

Sometimes fights can shift the momentum in a game and at other times, it can't be helped, especially when two teams that hate each other and have a bad history go at it during the playoffs like the Avs/Wings.

I personally think they go at it for sh*ts and giggles, or else the coach gives a bruiser the go ahead to stand up for a smaller guy or even to exact a little revenge. A little OT but I just watched an old clip of Joe Sakic beating the snot outta Doug Gilmour...very strange.

Answer 5

This goes back to the times of the Roman Empire where two men would fight each other. Punching, grapling, hitting, drawing blood all for the cheers of the fans in the crowd. Its the same now, people like seeing people fight. its not allowed but it happens.

The Penguins are gonna win it all this year!!!!!

Answer 6

its part of are game if you don't like it then don't watch. Fighting is allowed in the NHL sure you get a penalty but its part of the game. in any other sport if you fight you are suspended except in hockey which you are ALLOWED TO FIGHT!!!!!!

Answer 7

Technically, they aren't allowed players are given penalty minutes. However, they don't give out suspensions like other sports unless the the violence is extreme.....Which makes it seems like the fighting is allowed.

Answer 8

YOU NEED FIGHTING IN THE NHL .
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FIGHTING I THINK IT BE A BIT BORING TO WATCH.

Answer 9

They are allowed in order to increase attendance figures because everyone loves a bloody fight.

Answer 10

I know!! Why DO they let them? You see 2 dumb hockey players fightin each other to the death, but the ugly ape-like referees just stand right next to them, watching, while the crowd is going CRRRAAZZZY!!!