That's where the disconnect is. I'm not suggesting that my "solution" is ideal or the best way to clean it up. I'm saying it's better than the current "solution". There have been numerous people in charge of player discipline. Plenty has been tried.
- MJL

And what exactly has George Parros done to clean up the DOPS? I can't see it changing any time soon. The same things were being said back when Shanny was in charge.

Nervous about what? That he might have to fight? So they watch every game saying oh god hopefully he doesn’t fight tonight ? Sounds a little far fetched
- ClaudeFather

Not just the fighting. They play non-contact hockey for years and all of a sudden they’re running around trying to kill each other.
Forget the puck, just try to hit the guy. It’s scary

And what exactly has George Parros done to clean up the DOPS? I can't see it changing any time soon. The same things were being said back when Shanny was in charge.
- gergeswillems

I don't see it changing anytime soon either which is why I want it back in the hands of the players.

Not just the fighting. They play non-contact hockey for years and all of a sudden they’re running around trying to kill each other.
Forget the puck, just try to hit the guy. It’s scary
- shack67

Then play soccer , you are the anomaly not the norm sorry to tell you

What bothers me is that when a player legally body checks an opponent, the opposing bench wants to kill him. Like the player committed murder. But apparently it's perfectly okay to drill a defenseless opponent from behind into the glass? That's tough hard nosed hockey?
- gergeswillems

I watched the mccreary hit on Gretzky from back in the day. What really struck me was that not one oiler even looked at the kid.
He caught him with his head down and nailed him with a clean check and didn’t have to answer for it. Not like now.

Not just the fighting. They play non-contact hockey for years and all of a sudden they’re running around trying to kill each other.
Forget the puck, just try to hit the guy. It’s scary
- shack67

That's one problem with today's youth hockey. Players for the most part aren't trained to properly body check. It's becoming a lost skill. Too many games and not enough practices. Young players are also becoming worse at protecting themselves. These are skills which should be learned early in a young players development. Tackling is a lost skill in football. Body checking is a lost skill in hockey. I believe there's a correlation with many of the injuries we see today.

Then play soccer , you are the anomaly not the norm sorry to tell you
- ClaudeFather

Sorry I forgot who I was conversing with. It won’t happen again moron.

He said the truth, actually.
- shoreorrpark

I am surprised more teams have not come out and said something. I feel like if this were another sport, it would be discussed more.

Then again, baseball did basically nothing of consequence to the Astros, so I am probably wrong.

That's one problem with today's youth hockey. Players for the most part aren't trained to properly body check. It's becoming a lost skill. Too many games and not enough practices. Young players are also becoming worse at protecting themselves. These are skills which should be learned early in a young players development. Tackling is a lost skill in football. Body checking is a lost skill in hockey. I believe there's a correlation with many of the injuries we see today.
- gergeswillems

I agree

I watched the mccreary hit on Gretzky from back in the day. What really struck me was that not one oiler even looked at the kid.
He caught him with his head down and nailed him with a clean check and didn’t have to answer for it. Not like now.
- shack67

That's the thing. Back in the 80s if a player was legally hit then that's on him. If he's cheap shotted, the cavalry arrives. Players are so spoiled today that if an opponent even lays a finger nail on them, they're screaming bloody murder to the refs. They touch their lips in Pavlovian like fashion hoping to show blood.

Sorry I forgot who I was conversing with. It won’t happen again moron.
- shack67

I’m soooo nervous

I am surprised more teams have not come out and said something. I feel like if this were another sport, it would be discussed more.

Then again, baseball did basically nothing of consequence to the Astros, so I am probably wrong.
- Aetherial

More players have to speak out like Simmonds did. Instead he’s on an island by himself

I am surprised more teams have not come out and said something. I feel like if this were another sport, it would be discussed more.

Then again, baseball did basically nothing of consequence to the Astros, so I am probably wrong.
- Aetherial

Problem is that it won't be taken seriously because Evander Kane said it. And that shouldn't matter. He was 100% right in what he said and I wish more players would have the courage and conviction to tell the truth. But we know that won't happen. Good little sheep they are. Baaaaahhh...🐑

That's the thing. Back in the 80s if a player was legally hit then that's on him. If he's cheap shotted, the cavalry arrives. Players are so spoiled today that if an opponent even lays a finger nail on them, they're screaming bloody murder to the refs. They touch their lips in Pavlovian like fashion hoping to show blood.
- gergeswillems

Despite my earlier statements, I don't want the passion of a good fight to leave hockey. But if they want to keep it, they need to codify standards and enforce them vigilantly. Boxing has good standards, the enforcement is not great. MMA has decent standards depending on the flavor you watch, and the enforcement is usually pretty good. Both of these are inherently more violent sports with less protection for the combatants.

I guess my point is, the NHL could go down a path where it was acceptable to fight, but also have a strict rule set on what was not allowed physically. All of this would be accompanied by a *somewhat* predictable supplementary discipline. I'm not an MMA expert, but I do know they have handed out heavy and lengthy suspensions to prominent members for infractions.

Someone could say that the rules already exist and just need to be enforced, and maybe they're right, though I don't think so. Hockey doesn't need to change, how it is enforced definitely has to.

Despite my earlier statements, I don't want the passion of a good fight to leave hockey. But if they want to keep it, they need to codify standards and enforce them vigilantly. Boxing has good standards, the enforcement is not great. MMA has decent standards depending on the flavor you watch, and the enforcement is usually pretty good. Both of these are inherently more violent sports with less protection for the combatants.

I guess my point is, the NHL could go down a path where it was acceptable to fight, but also have a strict rule set on what was not allowed physically. All of this would be accompanied by a *somewhat* predictable supplementary discipline. I'm not an MMA expert, but I do know they have handed out heavy and lengthy suspensions to prominent members for infractions.

Someone could say that the rules already exist and just need to be enforced, and maybe they're right, though I don't think so. Hockey doesn't need to change, how it is enforced definitely has to.
- The_Journeyman

It's pretty simple to me. A top player on a contending team, cross checks a player in the throat, he gets a fine. A lesser player on a weaker time commits the same offense and he gets suspended. That needs to stop.

Despite my earlier statements, I don't want the passion of a good fight to leave hockey. But if they want to keep it, they need to codify standards and enforce them vigilantly. Boxing has good standards, the enforcement is not great. MMA has decent standards depending on the flavor you watch, and the enforcement is usually pretty good. Both of these are inherently more violent sports with less protection for the combatants.

I guess my point is, the NHL could go down a path where it was acceptable to fight, but also have a strict rule set on what was not allowed physically. All of this would be accompanied by a *somewhat* predictable supplementary discipline. I'm not an MMA expert, but I do know they have handed out heavy and lengthy suspensions to prominent members for infractions.

Someone could say that the rules already exist and just need to be enforced, and maybe they're right, though I don't think so. Hockey doesn't need to change, how it is enforced definitely has to.
- The_Journeyman

There has to be a proper and fair balance. Physicality has always been an integral part of the game. Without hitting we get ringette. I don't want that. But I don't want roller Derby either. Hudson Bay rules hockey can remain in 1995. I'm just sick of seeing guys like Marchand and Wilson running around like hyenas and hiding behind the Instigator rule.

If a player chooses to instigate and be a weasel then he should be held accountable. Right now that player isn't held accountable. It's hurting the game. Too many star players get run too often and miss games which hurts their teams. We want to see Connor McDavid playing on the ice right? So how do we make this happen?

It's pretty simple to me. A top player on a contending team, cross checks a player in the throat, he gets a fine. A lesser player on a weaker time commits the same offense and he gets suspended. That needs to stop.
- MJL

That's what I was referring to previously. Dart board justice. You're right. It needs to stop.

It's pretty simple to me. A top player on a contending team, cross checks a player in the throat, he gets a fine. A lesser player on a weaker time commits the same offense and he gets suspended. That needs to stop.
- MJL

There has to be a proper and fair balance. Physicality has always been an integral part of the game. Without hitting we get ringette. I don't want that. But I don't want roller Derby either. Hudson Bay rules hockey can remain in 1995. I'm just sick of seeing guys like Marchand and Wilson running around like hyenas and hiding behind the Instigator rule.

If a player chooses to instigate and be a weasel then he should be held accountable. Right now that player isn't held accountable. It's hurting the game. Too many star players get run too often and miss games which hurts their teams. We want to see Connor McDavid playing on the ice right? So how do we make this happen?
- gergeswillems

Agreed. I wouldn't want a knee-jerk reaction though. I think a few years without rule changes might see an evolution of a new, modern enforcer.

It was pretty awesome to see Kane actually say basically what every fan has been thinking and saying for years.

And he was totally right. It's also (frank)ed up Chara did what he did and just got a fine that mean nothing to him.

It's pretty simple to me. A top player on a contending team, cross checks a player in the throat, he gets a fine. A lesser player on a weaker time commits the same offense and he gets suspended. That needs to stop.
- MJL

Yes, that is not acceptable. I believe that is a combination of incompetence and league interference.

I'm seriously not a Pens Fan. I do remember Ulf Samuelsson ending Cam Neely's career. Do you remember Todd Bertuzzi ending Steve Moore's career? I do. Pretty sure the Instigator Rule was in effect. What's your point?
- gergeswillems

That was pre instigator rule. That’s my point.

That was pre instigator rule. That’s my point.
- ChrisMS

And I gave you post Instigator Rule. That was my point.

Tomas Chabot, Zedeno Chara and Zack Kassien all thank you for spelling Guy Fieri’s name correctly.