Comments on: The Big Question: Is there still a role for the designated fighter in the NHL? http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/the-big-question-is-there-still-a-role-for-the-designated-fighter-in-the-nhl/ ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports.com Fri, 24 May 2013 11:18:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: tbcrow http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/the-big-question-is-there-still-a-role-for-the-designated-fighter-in-the-nhl/comment-page-1/#comment-17963 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:25:24 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=51065#comment-17963 Designated fighters is such an old concept. I have more than enough respect for the men that did it in the past, but in today’s game there just isn’t a place for it.

Hypothetical, you watch a couple fights, everyone is mad, there are some minor “I’ve got your jersey”"No I’ve got your jersey” scuffles, and the crowd is in the game.

Hypothetical 2, someone is absolutely feed up with Player A’s behavior, so Player B in open ice catches an edge and creams his ass.

9 times out of 10, Hypothetical 2 will get your team more motivated, the crowd more into it, and send a much stronger message.

I’m all for a designated something, but it needs to be a designated skating brick wall, instead of having a player on the bench with a tattoo on his forehead that says “I’m here to break the rules, go to hell if you disagree”.

]]> By: polegojim http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/the-big-question-is-there-still-a-role-for-the-designated-fighter-in-the-nhl/comment-page-1/#comment-17921 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:40:41 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=51065#comment-17921 I agree that the fight should find A…. but maybe not with B. Sometimes the tough guys run at the super-skilled to TRY and get them out of the game via a fighting major.

That’s a tactic that escapes many in this subject theme.

Bring on C to even it up with A, or whichever letter of alphabet will make the greatest point. Just be prepared that A’s buddy might not let it happen. What do you do? Drop the gloves.

I’ll tell you the other rule that should be instituted is not only dropping the gloves, but dropping the VISORS. Most injuries are to hands, coming across visors and helmets.

If you’re gonna throw down, then lose the helmet and visor, and throw down. THAT might curb some of the more stupid fights.

]]> By: 1943mrmojorisin1971 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/the-big-question-is-there-still-a-role-for-the-designated-fighter-in-the-nhl/comment-page-1/#comment-17870 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:54:26 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=51065#comment-17870 You can be an enforcer in the sense Marty McSorley was one, that’s fine. We’re saying guys like Gillies that barely get any ice time and are expected to fight when they do play a shift have no real purpose. If the league wants to fix this problem with fighting they should just ditch the instigator rule. This ‘mad dog’ fighter, as Cherry calls them, didn’t really exist when that rule didn’t as well

The current system where player A throws a cheap shot on player B so player C fights player D doesn’t make any sense. The guy throwing the hit has to answer for his actions with his own fists, not have the team goon do his dirty work

]]> By: polegojim http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/the-big-question-is-there-still-a-role-for-the-designated-fighter-in-the-nhl/comment-page-1/#comment-17852 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:59:13 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=51065#comment-17852 Yes, absolutely there is still a role for the ‘designated fighter’

Yes – several comments above attempt to be ‘politically correct’ with a cute and soft spin…but you’re actually saying – Yes- to The Big Question.
Yes – anyone can drop the gloves, see Datsyuk… but you don’t want your most skilled guys making it a habit… or even more than one a year.
Yes – an ‘enforcer’ simply means someone who is bigger/better at fighting. It doesn’t mean they have no hockey talent. They make a BIG IMPACT. They’re not goons, they’re Sheriff’s

Just say YES and stop apologizing for it. Your mother isn’t reading this.

]]> By: theolgoaler http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/the-big-question-is-there-still-a-role-for-the-designated-fighter-in-the-nhl/comment-page-1/#comment-17843 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:33:29 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=51065#comment-17843 Like it or not, the logical result of the NHL’s attempts to reduce concussions will be an end to bare-knuckle fighting… getting hit in the head isn’t good for anybody; “run” one of ours, and sooner or later, one of ours will run you — when you least expect it!

]]> By: bcjim http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/the-big-question-is-there-still-a-role-for-the-designated-fighter-in-the-nhl/comment-page-1/#comment-17842 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:18:37 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=51065#comment-17842 Also agree. I love a good fight but players should handle their own business.

Ideally, get rid of goons (though it is unclear how this would happen) and ALSO get rid of the 3rd man in penalty, its too extreme and leads to retaliation or a staged fight. Occasionally, a player needs to be defended (MSL, lets say, or your goalie), but it has to be by someone ON the ice. I have no problem with that.

]]> By: killerpgh http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/the-big-question-is-there-still-a-role-for-the-designated-fighter-in-the-nhl/comment-page-1/#comment-17837 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:03:26 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=51065#comment-17837 The days of players like Trevor gillies are over. And they should be. The new “goons” of the NHL are player who have atleast some hockey skill. Player like Prust of the rangers who can kill penalties and fight (unless it’s Jordan Staal with a love tap) or even Engelland of the Penguins who can be a legit 6th d-man and play 10+ minutes a game and fight with the best of them.

]]> By: 1943mrmojorisin1971 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/the-big-question-is-there-still-a-role-for-the-designated-fighter-in-the-nhl/comment-page-1/#comment-17833 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:45:27 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=51065#comment-17833 100% agree. I have no problem if a guy makes his living fighting in addition to contributing to his team’s offense, defense, or both. Having a goon that gets more PIM a game than time on the ice when he’s not scratched in favour of a capable player is not a good thing. The NHL should look into how they can get those guys out of the game and into a UFC cage where they belong

]]> By: Nowhere Man http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/17/the-big-question-is-there-still-a-role-for-the-designated-fighter-in-the-nhl/comment-page-1/#comment-17829 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:03:56 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=51065#comment-17829 M-E-H meh.

I think it’s ridiculous. I don’t mind guys who can play AND chuck them but staged goon fights are stupid. Stupid like rock.

The whole concept is weird now. A player on your team ran a different player on my team. Wanna fight? Wanna huh? How’s that a deterrent. Like Matt Cooke running guys but he doesn’t fight so someone else has to. Not much of a deterrent to Cookie unless you’re Evander Kane.

No place no mo’.

]]>