Why is fighting in the NHL important?

Answer 1

because they would rather fight on the ice instead of fighting in a bar after the game like NBA and NFL'ers

Answer 2

I agree with everybody else. I also say that in a way that it is "important." like everything else that goes along with this sport it has its place. some people lose sight of the right to defend yourself and your team mates, *coughs Bettman*, some say that it has no place here. well its a contact sport where passions flare... its to be expected.

to be quite honest I would personally much rather see a couple of guys go at it and get a bloody nose or a split lip than to watch some one thrown into the boards on a cheap shot. now thats something that doesn't belong in the sport. with the skill level associated with these players why is it that the no-name moron (which every team has) believes its his god given right to develop a napoleon complex and hack away at the stars of the league (crosby, thornton, sakic, lecavalier, etc..) and can get away with it.

the issue isn't the fighting as long as its fair, its about the B.S. that starts with some guy thinking that he's the greatest thing on skates when he is nothing more than a no talent hack checking from behind and getting away with it. fighting keeps these guys and everyone else in line and leaves little room for all kinds career ending injuries. this isn't the ice capades, its the NHL and fighting is as much a part of it as the great saves.

one thing that really needs to change is this penchant for phantom calls and definitely the damn instigator rule. those are what is causing this whole fighting issue. get rid of all that and then you bring back fighting for a cause. this year alone I think there were less fights and no one seems happy with that. let the guys police them selves on ice and you won't see nearly as many career ending injuries as we have had this season. one fight and thats all over with. besides that the goons are gone, its no longer about the guy with the beefy fists and no talent. this isn't the movie SLAP SHOT, its real hockey. we have the enforcers, but with Bettman in charge we might as well put them all in ball gowns and call it a fashion show.

coaches this season have time and again instituted the poke check, and that opens the door for hooking calls.... where will it end? fighting has been a part of the sport for nearly 130 years trying to cut it out now gets rid of all that history. get rid of the instigators (ie the guy throwing cheap shots) and the enforcers (guys who fight with fairly man to man) and then we get rid of this "all importan question".

Answer 3

Fighting in hockey provides one function that is generally overlooked and is often a by-product of a fast and physical game. During the course of a game that has a lot of hitting and is very physical, tensions on both sides will mount. This is similar to a build-up in a volcano. As the tensions between the game build, they may eventually reach the point where they explode and a fight results.

Depending upon how much tension has built up, the fight can be anything from a little 2 player shoving match up to a bench clearing brawl. Generally, the fight will take place between players that would be known as tough guys. The major benefit of the fight, especially when waged between a single player from each team, is that the teams focus their energy on their representative in the fight. When the fight ends, regardless of the victor, a great deal of the tension is released and the teams will return to playing the game.

That is the real reason that fighting is a part of the game. Generally, the counter-argument that football is a physical game and does not have a "problem" with fighting is due largely to the amount of time actually spent playing against your opponent. In football, the majority of the 60 minutes is spent in the huddle or otherwise preparing for the next play; in hockey, the clock is not running unless play is actually underway. Consequently, in hockey players will spend more time physically playing against each other.

The use of fighting to "set the tone of the game" or "to send a message" is vastly over-rated and that aspect of fighting does not have a place in the game. There are much more effective methods of accomplishing this and operating within the rules of the game.

This is my view based upon almost 30 years of playing and refereeing at almost every level.

Answer 4

If youre asking..then you dont know the simple basics of hockey. Fighting is a way to stick up for yourself and your team. I know for one i wouldnt watch my teammate get cross checked into the boards even though he didnt have the puck or was the last one to have it, and not do anything about it. There was one time where a teammate of mine got a stick stabbed into his rib so hard by an opposing player that it broke. Right when i saw him fall to the ground, without thinking i dropped my gloves and went at him. Its funny cuz i was the only girl tho lol. But besides the fact that it feels automatic..you have to show whose stronger, and you cant get bullied. I think thats the main reason. The only time where you would see players fighting for NO reason, was when the originial 6 were playing, a guy from either the bruins or rangers was sent to beat the crap out of maurice richard. Plus a guy on my dads old team did that, but thats cuz they gave him 20 bux lol (which was a lot back then)

Answer 5

If it's so important, how come it rarely happens in the most important games of the years any more -- playoffs and Olympics?

Some people think it attracts fans, but on the other hand it may be turning more people off than on. The league has been wary of dropping it in fearing of losing part of its base, but many will never take it seriously until fighting is dropped.

Answer 6

There are so many answers to that question. My first thought is protection. If you touch my goalie, I promise your going to get beat. If you take out my start shooter, yeah watch your a s s cuz im after it. Two goons run into each other, off go the gloves!!! The fans love it, it keeps the game interesting and its just part of hockey!

Answer 7

I wouldn't say it's "important", but it's about sticking up for your teammates. Opposing players need to know, if you mess with our guys, you're going to pay the price.

Answer 8

It gives the team momentum, and the home crowd to get fired up. Teams love to fight.

Answer 9

you cant be much of a fan to ask this it is a contact sport like no other it is fast and tempers will flare up especially if you get boarded hard you will want that guy bad.

Answer 10

I went to a boxing match the other night and a hockey game broke out...