haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 Just to fuel the fire. Feel free to combine if this seems like too close to the pre-existing fight threads... Buccigross's article Some excerpts: After years of what appeared to be an overly corporate NHL taking systematic steps to take as much fighting out of the game as possible, fighting is making a small comeback in the league. ...HockeyFights.com has numbers that say fights per game are the highest (0.74-ish a game) they have been over the past eight years. Fights per game have also gone up each season since the lockout (0.38 to 0.40 to 0.54 to 0.74-ish). Thankfully, players hate each other again. That makes for good TV. And I think it's a fair point to say that parts of those elements were eradicated, some wholly and some subtly, from the NHL for the purpose of more corporate sponsorships. Perhaps that was necessary to raise the game to first-class heights; but, clearly, charming parts of the sport were lost and thus large amounts of fans were lost as well. The game went from a raucous Irish bar to a night out at Outback Steakhouse. It still hasn't fully regained the edge it once had, but that part has definitely improved. Interview with Jim Cummins: "I don't want fighting to be like it was in the 1970s, but I think from the late '80s to the mid-'90s, it was a true game that was enforced by the players. There could be an awesome hockey game going on, but the players kept each other in line. There was a lot of respect for each other, but when things got out of control, the players acted on it. And it helped keep the game energized." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 Valid points all around, but Heaton hit the nail on the head when he said this season is different from the rest. Yeah, Kopecky isn't much better than an all-around enforcer, but Hossa is his meal ticket. So signing Hossa ultimately means keeping Kopecky which accounts for two spots that a physical guy could've had. Next season could be different. If guys like Sammy, Hossa, and Kopecky are gone, a 3rd/4th line guy could be worked into the scheme. I wouldn't mind Neil on the a line with Cleary and Helm.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) "...but the players kept each other in line." Why, whatever does he mean? Put your guns back in your holsters non-fight fans, I'm not naive enough to understand there are just as many folks in the media who don't support fighting as there are ones that do. It's an epic struggle! (btw, I love the Outback comment! Hilarious!) Cheers! esteef Edited October 22, 2008 by esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shutemdown 23 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 I loved: "I would still watch NHL games if fighting was "banned," and I certainly understand someone could actually get killed in an NHL fight; but I also get that people have died slipping in their own bathrooms, and they still haven't banned showers." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mors 201 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 Must be exciting for those fans. The Wings are among the 3 teams in the league that currently have 0 fights this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 Must be exciting for those fans. The Wings are among the 3 teams in the league that currently have 0 fights this season. It's early yet. But if Downey and McCarty weren't able to crack the lineup, I could easily see the Wings having less than 5 on the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 I actually heard the real reason Holland traded Quincey was mainly because Quincey was taking fighting lessons from Downey and stating so publicly. (He felt it sent a bad message). *Sorry! Just trying to incite something!!!* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 It's early yet. But if Downey and McCarty weren't able to crack the lineup, I could easily see the Wings having less than 5 on the season. That would break our previous record of wussiness that we set several years ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 That would break our previous record of wussiness that we set several years ago. I assume you're talking about the 6 fights in '06? The best part is one of those fights was Maltby, so it wasn't really a fight. And another was Cory Cross! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 I assume you're talking about the 6 fights in '06? The best part is one of those fights was Maltby, so it wasn't really a fight. And another was Cory Cross! What happened to us that year in the playoffs? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Louisville 112 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) Man, Bucci is always so good. My favorite excerpt: Fighting also achieves one very important thing for the NHL: It makes the sport stand out in a media world of white noise. No other sport allows bare-knuckle fighting, and no other team sport allows fighting with such a small penalty as a five-minute timeout in a small box complete with towels, ice and beverages. There is even a guy in the penalty box who appears as if he could give you excellent tax advice or 401(k) reassurance. Edited October 22, 2008 by Louisville Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DyingAlive 27 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 Haha, I loved that article. Bucci is great. And I must say I'm happy with the increase in fighting. Not because I'm one of those NHL fans that screams for a fight every time two players jaw at each other. Because I think it is very much part of the game that shouldn't be lost. Regardless of whether the Wings do it or not. It needs to be kept in the league and the increase since the lockout is wonderful news. Keep the Fight alive! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted October 22, 2008 What happened to us that year in the playoffs? Didnt our immense powerplay enforcer take us to Stanley Cup glory that year? Well we didnt have Kopecky then...cant look at it too seriously. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted October 23, 2008 I assume you're talking about the 6 fights in '06? The best part is one of those fights was Maltby, so it wasn't really a fight. And another was Cory Cross! Hahaha. Maltby's "fight" with Gary Roberts! I love Malts, but damn that was embarrasing. And hey now, Cory Cross beat Ott down, I still say he would've been better against Edmontons big bodies then Lebda was. Plus, the rest of the fights were all Shanny, and one from Fischer. Also, is that really what Holland said in regards to trading Quincey? If so, my opinion on him has changed big time, stillt he best pure hockey mind amongst GM's, but wow, that in itself is embarrassing to say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
