AP When asked if the NHL should ban fighting, a 20-player panel was unanimous in its opinion – No.
That finding courtesy ESPN, which polled a diverse group of 20 NHLers about the role of fighting in today’s game. The panel was a varied one, comprised of enforcers, all-stars, North Americans, Europeans, players with mustaches, players without mustaches, etc.
Among the other findings:
—-Bruins forward Brad Marchand led the “players I’d like to fight” category.
—-Pittsburgh’s Steve MacIntyre was the most terrifying fighter.
—-Four of the six enforcers polled said they weren’t taught how to scrap. “You learn more through experience. When I was younger, in the WHL, I lost a lot of fights. That’s how you learn.”
Most important, though, is the fact none of the 20 players wanted fighting banned, a sentiment that’s been confirmed in previous player polls. Now let’s watch a good, old-fashioned brawl:
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- govtminion - Dec 2, 2011 at 2:56 PM
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Player #21 would have asked for fighting to be removed, but it was just Rick DiPietro.
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- drewsylvania - Dec 2, 2011 at 4:48 PM
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Loved the Brent Johnson stiff arm to the face.
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- pastabelly - Dec 2, 2011 at 3:12 PM
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Yeah, they’d like to fight Marchand because he’s 5’9″ 180 pounds. He’s the Ken Linseman of this era. He’s come a long way in a year.
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- davebabychreturns - Dec 2, 2011 at 4:29 PM
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Heh, I am pretty sure the list of reasons a bunch of players around the league would love to “fight” (ie. maul) Brad Marchand extends just a little bit beyond his tiny stature.
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- govtminion - Dec 2, 2011 at 4:55 PM
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To be fair, they asked about fighting, not strangling with bare hands.
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- danphipps01 - Dec 2, 2011 at 4:59 PM
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Yes, well, these things are open to interpretation.
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- gbiscottagecheesefatties - Dec 2, 2011 at 3:58 PM
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There is a need for fighting in hockey but it’s time to add no touch icing and seriously suspend players for intent to injure
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- drewsylvania - Dec 2, 2011 at 4:49 PM
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For me, keep icing the way it is. It’s fun to watch those races to the puck.
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- rca26 - Dec 2, 2011 at 6:06 PM
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Took me a second to realize that wasn’t two different Winnipeg Jets fighting each other. The Jackets should stick to their primaries.
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- betrayedbylife - Dec 3, 2011 at 1:51 AM
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bruins fan but if marchand wasn’t with boston i would love to watch him get beat
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- bostonianpride - Dec 3, 2011 at 2:28 AM
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Betrayed im in the same category. True Bruins fan all the way but if Marchand wasn’t a Bruin I would hate him almost as much as I HATE Avery!!!!
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- yepurwrong - Dec 3, 2011 at 8:43 AM
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Hockey fights are not really fights. Sort of horseplay, much like PSU. A true fight doesn’t involve skates and only wanting to fight because our team is getting their Azzez beat.
