Should Fighting Be Allowed In The NHL?

"Looks Like 2 Monkeys Trying to Hump
A Football" - MIRACLE

This has been a hot button topic for YEARS now.  The ancient (and some times archaic) game has taken on some new styles since the old day of the Gordie Howe "Hat Trick" (Goal, Assist, and Fight all in one game).  The game has evolved in many ways...in ways to improve the product for television, to enhance the fan experience, and to keep it current in today's day and age.  The NHL has gone from the "glow puck" to shootouts all to keep themselves as close to the forefront of sports as they can.  As progressive as the NHL has been with rules changes, the all star game, and how they handle instant replay, the lockouts have certainly put a strangle hold on any progress that has been made.  When I wrote an article asking what the NHL needs to do to get disgruntled fans back in their good graces there were alot of very common responses: "Bettman's resignation", "Free NHL Center Ice", "Free Beer at Games", and plenty of other comical responses.  Nonetheless, I got one that really shocked me.  Someone wrote "Ban fighting. Grown men punching each other over a game, how do I explain that to my 3 yr old?".  Not only was I not expecting that response to my article, but it made me think...have we as a society out grown hockey fights?  Is there a place for it in the game?  You might be surprised by what I actually think...

Fighting in hockey isn't really comparable to anything else in sports.  The only thing that can compare is the "unwritten rules" of baseball.  In baseball, if a player gets hit by a pitch that seems to be intentional, the "unwritten rules" state that a player from the opposing team will have to deal with paybacks.  These "rules" have led to ejections, suspensions, and even bench clearing brawls.  People debate the fact of whether or not these "rules" even exist, or if the players are just acting like immature HS players.  Believe it or not, fighting DOES have a place in hockey, but SHOULD it have a place in hockey is the question.  Fighting is used to create momentum, to stop momentum, and to make a statement.  It is hard to explain unless you've played the game, but I can give you an example.  In the 2009 playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins were playing a 2nd round series with the Philadelphia Flyers.  The Pens were tied 2-2 in the series and were in Philly and were losing 4-2 in the 2nd period.  The puck wasn't bouncing the Penguins way and the Flyers had the momentum...enter then Penguin Max Talbot.  Talbot picked a fight with the Flyers toughest player in Dan Garcillo.  Talbot didn't stand a chance in the fight, and did his best to hold his own.  After the fight was over, Talbot skated to the penalty box with his finger to his lips to tell the Philly faithful to quiet down.  At the time of the fight I said exactly what the announcers said...there was NOTHING the Flyers were going to get out of this fight, and the Penguins would get EVERYTHING from this fight.  That is exactly what happened.  The Penguins fed off of that fight and their player sticking his neck out for the team.  The Pens came back and won the game 6-4 and won the series the next game....on their way to their 3rd Stanley Cup Championship. 

Don't get me wrong, fighting in the NHL is not always acceptable in my mind.  When you have multiple fights going on at once, when goalies fight, and when players don't have the self control to know when to stop the fight...that is when I shake my head and say that this doesn't have a place in the sport.  I hate when players drop the gloves at opening puck drop of a period or game.  I can't stand "goons".  If you can't handle the puck and contribute to the team, then you shouldn't be playing the game.  Its the same reason I hate the designated hitter in baseball.  If you can't put a glove on your hand and play the field, you shouldn't be playing...PERIOD. 

It is (I know because my 4 year old LOVES hockey) difficult to try to explain to a young person watching the game that fighting isn't okay, but it is when you watch a NHL game.  Nonetheless, I find myself being able to explain that to young people better than I can justify to people why fighting SHOULDN'T be in the sport.  Its a debate that will never end unless the NHL bans it from the game; however, I don't foresee that happening when 2 years ago the NHL polled the players on whether or not they thought the game should ban fighting and 98% said that fighting should NOT be banned.  I can only imagine who those 2% were that said they thought it SHOULD be banned...maybe Rick DiPietro (Goalie for the Islanders) who got his orbital bone shattered by Pens backup goalie Brent Johnson a couple years back.

Nonetheless, fighting IS a part of the game in the NHL and there is no debating that simple fact.  You may not like it, and you may love it, but regardless its a part of the game that isn't going anywhere.  If you are a person that will not watch the game of hockey because of two grown men fighting...then I don't think hockey is the right sport for you anyways.  Maybe golf would be a better option (I love golf by the way...), but if you want a game that is as physical, fast, and aggressive as the sport of hockey is...then you have to either tolerate or cheer for the fighting because it seems to be here to stay.