Paul Stewart: Sticks, Scalpels and Putters

Another great story Paul!!

In your opinion, who are the top 3 players in the NHL right now who disgrace the game?

Great story. I love reading your blogs. I find your insights as a former player and ref very interesting. Thanks.

Question - do the guys you write about ever contact you about your stories? Like maybe to to give their side, request corrections, blast you for writing it, or maybe even attempt to bury the hatchet?

times are changing, thankfully.

times are changing, thankfully.
- Fountain-San

Dylan-San

Dylan-San
- eichiefs9

but really, this whole lamenting the phasing out of guys that can only fight and not skate is a tired act. we all like a good fight, fine. but in the cap era you can't have a guy like colton orr taking up a spot. total waste.

One of my biggest frustrations with hockey in more recent years has been the way the old-fashioned honest tough guy has been increasingly forced out of the sport

By "old-fashioned honest tough guy" you mean the guy who plays three minutes a game because he can't skate well enough or contribute to the game then I guess I am glad they are taken out of the game.

Most of those tough guys don't fight from a hockey play but from a discussion at the face-off circle, staged fight. The game doesn't need this. Those type of "goons" as you called it is being taken from the game. Fighting is still very much allowed and appreciated from guys who can play the game and happen to also be tough enough to fight. A hockey play fight is still very much allowed and enjoyed.

The stick work you mention and also the diving you mention as something you hate is kinda ironic seeing your a past NHL ref. The simple answer is also a question. Why do the ref's not call this if it is so prevalent? Diving is rarely called yet it happens all the time. If they were called all the time players woudn't do it for fear of putting their team down a man.

Another penalty that is rarely called is the instigator penalty. I would say 80% of fights is started by one player who drops the gloves, most also drop then even if they don't want to fight so they won't be called chicken or the old Don Cherry "turtle".

The things you say you hate in hockey today can be fixed by the referees calling the infraction.

One of my biggest frustrations with hockey in more recent years has been the way the old-fashioned honest tough guy has been increasingly forced out of the sport

By "old-fashioned honest tough guy" you mean the guy who plays three minutes a game because he can't skate well enough or contribute to the game then I guess I am glad they are taken out of the game.

Most of those tough guys don't fight from a hockey play but from a discussion at the face-off circle, staged fight. The game doesn't need this. Those type of "goons" as you called it is being taken from the game. Fighting is still very much allowed and appreciated from guys who can play the game and happen to also be tough enough to fight. A hockey play fight is still very much allowed and enjoyed.

The stick work you mention and also the diving you mention as something you hate is kinda ironic seeing your a past NHL ref. The simple answer is also a question. Why do the ref's not call this if it is so prevalent? Diving is rarely called yet it happens all the time. If they were called all the time players woudn't do it for fear of putting their team down a man.

Another penalty that is rarely called is the instigator penalty. I would say 80% of fights is started by one player who drops the gloves, most also drop then even if they don't want to fight so they won't be called chicken or the old Don Cherry "turtle".

The things you say you hate in hockey today can be fixed by the referees calling the infraction.
- sparky

really good post. for reals!

One of my biggest frustrations with hockey in more recent years has been the way the old-fashioned honest tough guy has been increasingly forced out of the sport

By "old-fashioned honest tough guy" you mean the guy who plays three minutes a game because he can't skate well enough or contribute to the game then I guess I am glad they are taken out of the game.

Most of those tough guys don't fight from a hockey play but from a discussion at the face-off circle, staged fight. The game doesn't need this. Those type of "goons" as you called it is being taken from the game. Fighting is still very much allowed and appreciated from guys who can play the game and happen to also be tough enough to fight. A hockey play fight is still very much allowed and enjoyed.

The stick work you mention and also the diving you mention as something you hate is kinda ironic seeing your a past NHL ref. The simple answer is also a question. Why do the ref's not call this if it is so prevalent? Diving is rarely called yet it happens all the time. If they were called all the time players woudn't do it for fear of putting their team down a man.

Another penalty that is rarely called is the instigator penalty. I would say 80% of fights is started by one player who drops the gloves, most also drop then even if they don't want to fight so they won't be called chicken or the old Don Cherry "turtle".

The things you say you hate in hockey today can be fixed by the referees calling the infraction.
- sparky

I have addressed all of these issues at length in past blogs. I agree with a couple things - not big on staged fights. The rest is off the mark for reasons I write about frequently.

You see the game through the eyes of someone who has (probably) not played the game at any significant level and has never officiated it. And that's fine. But I can tell you from 40 years in this business that it is not 1/10th as simple and cut-and-dry as the civvies think it is.

I have addressed all of these issues at length in past blogs. I agree with a couple things - not big on staged fights. The rest is off the mark for reasons I write about frequently.

You see the game through the eyes of someone who has (probably) not played the game at any significant level and has never officiated it. And that's fine. But I can tell you from 40 years in this business that it is not 1/10th as simple and cut-and-dry as the civvies think it is.
- Paul Stewart

good grief.

I have addressed all of these issues at length in past blogs. I agree with a couple things - not big on staged fights. The rest is off the mark for reasons I write about frequently.

You see the game through the eyes of someone who has (probably) not played the game at any significant level and has never officiated it. And that's fine. But I can tell you from 40 years in this business that it is not 1/10th as simple and cut-and-dry as the civvies think it is.
- Paul Stewart

I've never played pro hockey, and have never been a ref but I agree with sparky. If the league took care of the dirty guys, there would be no need for a guy who can't play the game. Most of the goon fights are staged. The real fights that fans like, come from tough players who can play. I'm a big fan of the past and present Oiler enforcers, but the game has evolved. It's time to move on.

One of my biggest frustrations with hockey in more recent years has been the way the old-fashioned honest tough guy has been increasingly forced out of the sport

By "old-fashioned honest tough guy" you mean the guy who plays three minutes a game because he can't skate well enough or contribute to the game then I guess I am glad they are taken out of the game.

Most of those tough guys don't fight from a hockey play but from a discussion at the face-off circle, staged fight. The game doesn't need this. Those type of "goons" as you called it is being taken from the game. Fighting is still very much allowed and appreciated from guys who can play the game and happen to also be tough enough to fight. A hockey play fight is still very much allowed and enjoyed.

The stick work you mention and also the diving you mention as something you hate is kinda ironic seeing your a past NHL ref. The simple answer is also a question. Why do the ref's not call this if it is so prevalent? Diving is rarely called yet it happens all the time. If they were called all the time players woudn't do it for fear of putting their team down a man.

Another penalty that is rarely called is the instigator penalty. I would say 80% of fights is started by one player who drops the gloves, most also drop then even if they don't want to fight so they won't be called chicken or the old Don Cherry "turtle".

The things you say you hate in hockey today can be fixed by the referees calling the infraction.
- sparky

The instigator is one of the worst rules in hockey. You have guys running around (not getting into naming players that will bring on the trolls) without fear of getting what they deserve. A lot of the head hunting, knees on knee hits wouldn't happen if those players knew they had to answer for their antics and on top of that there are guys that would normally address it right away but are fearful of that game misconduct that comes with the instigator.

I have addressed all of these issues at length in past blogs. I agree with a couple things - not big on staged fights. The rest is off the mark for reasons I write about frequently.
You see the game through the eyes of someone who has (probably) not played the game at any significant level and has never officiated it. And that's fine. But I can tell you from 40 years in this business that it is not 1/10th as simple and cut-and-dry as the civvies think it is.
- Paul Stewart

I read all your blogs and to my memory I can't think of where you say "the rest is off the mark for reasons I write about frequently" The only blog that comes close is the one you wrote recently about careful what you wish for. The blog where you point out that you can't call everything or the game would be boring with too many penalties.

Are you saying that ref's don't call all the diving because ait would resut in too many penalties? If so I think yout wrong. Like I said diving would soon be gone or close to gone IF they were called. If it isn't called then don't blame the player for embellishing a trip, slash etc. That's a great play by the player if his team gets a man advantage. An announcer once said on air that the ref's hate to call diving because it embarrasses the player. Hell if thats true, then go ahead and embarrass him, he will stop doing it or do it far less frequently.

You said you agreed about not being a fan about the "staged fight" good, but you said nothing about the "good old fashioned fighter" (goon) except, again, saying you won't comment as you have said it in previous blogs. Never have I seen you talk about it.

In todays NHL, with salary caps, teams rolling 4 lines can you say there is a place for the guys who are slow skaters, score a goal maybe if the puck hits him in the ass and happens to go in, normally gets penalties (not just majors) from tripping etc because they can't keep up with the play. I can go on and on but you know what I am talking about. The guy making one million that can contribute nothing but punch somone in the face is almost a dinasour. If you want to be a fighter in this league you at least have to be able to skate and play on a regular line with out hurting the team. There are many guys, Kassian with Vancouver comes to mind who can play,score and fight. Quite a bit differant then a Colton Orr.

I did play the game but not at a high level and never was a ref. I have watched long enough that I remember sitting on the couch watching the Leafs win the Stanley cup. So I am not some kid that watches the first period of hockey then it's off to bed.

I remember when it was a penalty if your stick was over your waist when you went into the corners to check someone. Thats ok now. I remember when hip checks were fantastic to watch, now you never see it as the ref's now say it is a low hit. Heck I remember when the Kerry didn't have the balls to kick Gretzky out of the game against LA. He can talk all he wants about how he didn't see it. It's alot easier to say that then to say I didn't have the nonads to kick Gretzky out of the game. The rest of that series is history and one that a single play decided a series.

If it isn't 1/10th as simple as us civies think it is then you have the opportunity to tell us thru your blog what we don't know.

The sad but true fact at the end of the day is most of these "pests" that might hurt a guy every once in awhile are usually decent hockey players. Who would you rather be carrying on your roster going into the stanley cup playoffs Matt Cooke, or John Scott. The downfall of the enforcer started I believe when they were bread out of junior hockey. Guys like Scott, Boogaard, Mcgratten, Belak were never good hockey players, they were giants who were there to fight the other teams giant and thats just boring. I'd rather see two European players with shields who are actually mad at each other fight, than two old pals just out there doing it so they can both have a job.

The sad but true fact at the end of the day is most of these "pests" that might hurt a guy every once in awhile are usually decent hockey players. Who would you rather be carrying on your roster going into the stanley cup playoffs Matt Cooke, or John Scott. The downfall of the enforcer started I believe when they were bread out of junior hockey. Guys like Scott, Boogaard, Mcgratten, Belak were never good hockey players, they were giants who were there to fight the other teams giant and thats just boring. I'd rather see two European players with shields who are actually mad at each other fight, than two old pals just out there doing it so they can both have a job.
- Grinder47

Agreed, and nicely said. What does one goon fighting the other teams goon have to do with the game? What you want is a big tough guy who can play a regular shift, score goals, kill penalties etc. Not play three minutes to get a spot on Don Cherry's fighting tapes.

Paul, why are teams so afraid of the instigator minor?

You get an extra minor penalty....so what?! An average NHL powerplay scores maybe 25% of the time. And I bet a team would work even extra hard to kill off the minor for a player that supported his teammates by jumping a stickman or cheapshot artist. So let's say there is a 1 in 5 chance the other team might get a goal out of it.

Why not lose the battle to win the war? I bet if a team got the reputation for "being willing to take an instigator" to implement its own justice you would see the opponents' rats cut back on taking liberties against that team.

Do you think the Matt Cooke's and Patrick Kaleta's of the world would keep doing their thing against Boston if they knew Lucic or Chara would jump them and pound the snot out of them if they tried?

I bet after sending this message 5 or 6 times a team would rarely even need to do it any more. The word would be out and the little weasels would crawl back into their holes for games against that team.

What do you think?

Great blog Paul. I love these stories, keep them coming.

I think the general consensus involving "goons" or "enforcers" is moving towards a multi-role type of player. As others have said, there just is not a place on the roster any more for a player whose sole skill is to drop the gloves.

Now, we are seeing the enforcer who can skate relatively well and has another skill to offer - the ability to win faceoffs, kill penalties, etc. I think this is more a product of business than fan or player preference. Big contracts and salary caps mean cracking the roster is increasingly difficult for players who are considered "one trick ponies". Even players with notable offensive gifts are expected to play a solid two-way game and be solid in their own zone.

Personally, I miss the old days of enforcers, hip checks, and physical play. Guys like Basil McCrae, Tie Domi, and Bob Probert probably would not find a place on a roster now. Even guys like Wendel Clark, who could score and fight, would be sorely challenged to find a spot in the regular rotation of today's teams.