Perfect time to take a pee.
- ChrisMS

So when Crosby and Giroux decided to fight in the 2012 playoffs, despite being the best players on their respective team, you turned away from the game? I don't believe you.

The refs need to stop "allowing" the players to get out their aggression via fighting. Or make it a rule that if you fight you are gone for the rest of the game, which I think deters the star vs star fight like Malkin and Wheeler had last night.

You want to see people beat the tar out of each other, that's fine, go watch the UFC.

I dont understand if you guys cant handle hockey why do you watch it. The coaches the players the gms all want fighting save for a few. Malkin and Ccrosby both like fighting. Ovi likes fighting. Its their game, they decide and your opinions mean nothing to any of them.
- Grinder47

Actually, the owners decide. The players actually hold very little power. If the owners truly want to abolish it, they will.

The same people watch NASCAR for the wrecks!

I dont understand if you guys cant handle hockey why do you watch it. The coaches the players the gms all want fighting save for a few. Malkin and Ccrosby both like fighting. Ovi likes fighting. Its their game, they decide and your opinions mean nothing to any of them.
- Grinder47

Malkin has 6 nhl fights if you count preseason games. Crosby, 7 if you include postseason, Ovechkin, has 3. What are you talking about.

The refs need to stop "allowing" the players to get out their aggression via fighting. Or make it a rule that if you fight you are gone for the rest of the game, which I think deters the star vs star fight like Malkin and Wheeler had last night.

You want to see people beat the tar out of each other, that's fine, go watch the UFC.
- Sabres1523

Agreed. And what's with these players smashing their bodies into one another? I mean, someone could get hurt doing that. Need to get rid of this mindless violence.

So when Crosby and Giroux decided to fight in the 2012 playoffs, despite being the best players on their respective team, you turned away from the game? I don't believe you.
- jmatchett383

When did that happen? I must have been peein

So when Crosby and Giroux decided to fight in the 2012 playoffs, despite being the best players on their respective team, you turned away from the game? I don't believe you.
- jmatchett383

For a Flyers fan, you seem to be smart... are you sure that you aren't a Pens fan in denial? I agree with you BTW.

I disagree entirely about stars fighting stars. That's exactly the fights that matter. Not goons vs goons. Not no name AHLers trying to "impress" their coach about their "commitment." When stars fight (in general) it's raw emotion. Those are the only fights that I find acceptable and it isn't because it is entertaining, it's because clearly the two players involved care enough to do it, when they could be trying to score like they usually do.
- AdamFrench

The law of diminishing returns. Same reason outdoor games don't feel important anymore.

For a Flyers fan, you seem to be smart... are you sure that you aren't a Pens fan in denial? I agree with you BTW.
- hipcheck_goalie

When I got into hockey as a kid, I liked the Flyers as the home team, but also liked the Penguins and Red Wings. Then I married a girl whose family is from Pittsburgh. So I am a Flyers fan 1st, Penguins distant (VERY DISTANT) second. But I root for them when it doesn't hurt the Flyers.

I do understand that players like Sestito have no place in the league today. But this is a game where players smash into each other at speeds of up to 50mph (combined) where, unlike football, there is no soft grass to be pushed onto. You have a player trying to put you through a piece of semi-rigid glass or onto hard ice. Sometimes, tempers flare. I'd rather have the option of trying to punch a guy's face 5-6 times that using your stick as a weapon out of frustration.

The law of diminishing returns. Same reason outdoor games don't feel important anymore.
- Zac_O

Because there's too many of them????

"Your honor, I signed a contract of my own free will to play professional hockey in this league for millions of dollars annually. I was able to retire from the game at any time of my choosing. Please make them pay me more because I didn't choose to stop playing and got hurt."
- jmatchett383

No just that. Include in "they should have done this and this because it MIGHT cause this instead of this." Pure conjecture no evidence of any sort. Laughable for a court case.

Regarding stars fighting, what if Crosby and Giroux were to have another fight and both players coincidentally broke their hands on each others' visors and were out six weeks each. Would that fight have still been as exciting and worthwhile?

When did that happen? I must have been peein
- ChrisMS

Sure. Guess you also missed 2008 SCF Game 5 and the entire Penguins/Islanders game where Haley fought Johnson.

Agreed. And what's with these players smashing their bodies into one another? I mean, someone could get hurt doing that. Need to get rid of this mindless violence.
- jmatchett383

Yes and when a player falls and smashes their head open on the ice and dies, we can all play nice together.

Gimme a break, hitting is fine, not even close to as stupid it is to have two men bare knuckle fight an a sheet of ice, with no helmets on.

Im not a wimp that wants anything physical taken out of the game but a hit like McCabe had on Laine I love. To see two idiots who can barley play hockey wrestle around for two minutes is stupid

Regarding stars fighting, what if Crosby and Giroux were to have another fight and both players coincidentally broke their hands on each others' visors and were out six weeks each. Would that fight have still been as exciting and worthwhile?
- PghPens668771

Yes, it still would have been exciting. It's their choice to do so, I'm sure they're aware of this (as would be any person).

No evidence to support it, but I'd say more injuries in hockey occur due to "clean" hits that due to fights per capita. So if we're gonna remove fighting, remove body checking too.

Regarding stars fighting, what if Crosby and Giroux were to have another fight and both players coincidentally broke their hands on each others' visors and were out six weeks each. Would that fight have still been as exciting and worthwhile?
- PghPens668771

Yes; no

Yes and when a player falls and smashes their head open on the ice and dies, we can all play nice together.

Gimme a break, hitting is fine, not even close to as stupid it is to have two men bare knuckle fight an a sheet of ice, with no helmets on.

Im not a wimp that wants anything physical taken out of the game but a hit like McCabe had on Laine I love. To see two idiots who can barley play hockey wrestle around for two minutes is stupid
- Sabres1523

Bill Masterson died as a result of a clean hit. Blake Geoffrion had to retire because he shattered his skull on a clean hit.

Please show me the players who died and had near-death experiences as a result of a hockey fight.

I agree two goons fighting to show who's a better goon is stupid. But 2 legit players fighting based on emotion is okay with me.

Because there's too many of them????
- jmatchett383

Yes. And that's why fights between stars are great. How often do you see that?

Regarding stars fighting, what if Crosby and Giroux were to have another fight and both players coincidentally broke their hands on each others' visors and were out six weeks each. Would that fight have still been as exciting and worthwhile?
- PghPens668771

What if they both fell out of bed and broke their hands? Oh, the world of "what ifs."

Regarding stars fighting, what if Crosby and Giroux were to have another fight and both players coincidentally broke their hands on each others' visors and were out six weeks each. Would that fight have still been as exciting and worthwhile?
- PghPens668771

What if Crosby goes to make a clean hit on a player, misses, and breaks his arm on the plexiglass? Would that still have been worthwhile?

Edit: From a purely "beneficial to the Flyers" standpoint, I think I'd have to say that would be worthwhile in a best-of-7 series.

The PC World/Snowflakes won't stop until every one is sitting around, holding hands, watching Frozen on repeat.

Hockey was a physical sport filled with emotion and passion. Like most sports its a water down version of what it once was. Sadly not because of the players.

Yes, it still would have been exciting. It's their choice to do so, I'm sure they're aware of this (as would be any person).

No evidence to support it, but I'd say more injuries in hockey occur due to "clean" hits that due to fights per capita. So if we're gonna remove fighting, remove body checking too.
- jmatchett383

I wouldn't find it exciting if they broke their hands or not. Fights don't excite me, they bore me. Goals and scoring chances excite me. That's what I watch for.

The PC World/Snowflakes won't stop until every one is sitting around, holding hands, watching Frozen on repeat.

Hockey was a physical sport filled with emotion and passion. Like most sports its a water down version of what it once was. Sadly not because of the players.
- flyers2001

Or we could sit around and watch speed and skill and scoring? That is what entertains me, not big hits and fighting.

PS Frozen sucks.

The PC World/Snowflakes won't stop until every one is sitting around, holding hands, watching Frozen on repeat.

Hockey was a physical sport filled with emotion and passion. Like most sports its a water down version of what it once was. Sadly not because of the players.
- flyers2001

I disagree.

The days of having Dan Kordic or Troy Loney skating 5 minutes a game to do nothing more than to fight another player to see who is better at being a punching bag are gone. They were wild times, but I'm okay with them being gone.

However, having guys like Wayne Simmonds and players with skill who can fight is okay with me. If you're not out there only to fight but it happens due to emotion, I'm with with it. Pre-meditated fights though, no thanks.