BY: STEVE CONWAY, Special To Howlings
NEW YORK, NY – Fighting in hockey, whether you love it or hate it, is changing. The NHL might not have changed the rules lately, but the trend is evident. There is simply less fighting than ever on the ice. Since the beginning of the sport, there have been fights in hockey, and ‘fisticuffs’ were even regulated way back in 1922. Those fights have remained a crucial hockey component ever since, but some teams are renowned for fighting a little dirtier than others. As the number of battles on the ice goes down every year, those teams with a reputation for fighting may have to take a closer look at their style of play.
Deserved Reputations
Many of the dirtiest teams in the NHL well deserve their reputations. One of those teams, the Boston Bruins, consistently comes on the top of surveys among fans questioned about dirty playing, and that reputation is well-deserved. They’ve had 371 fighting majors since the 2010/2011 season, along with the highest number of instigator penalties. They aren’t the only ones with an alarming number of fights to their name. The Anaheim Ducks have been involved in almost the same number of fighting majors simultaneously, although they are far less likely to instigate those fisticuffs. From the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers to the overly aggressive New York Islanders, dirty play and hockey go hand in hand for some teams.
Why Fighting Could Be Dropping
The question as to whether to allow fighting to remain part of hockey is not new and has been the subject of multiple debates and arguments over the years. The reasons for cutting down or eradicating those fights are simple, in that every fight:
- It slows down the game.
- Risks injury unnecessarily
- It gives hockey a bad name.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
There’s a lot of skill involved in hockey, but those skills are often overlooked by non-fans who instead focus on aggressive playing and fighting. On the flip side of that is the argument that fighting is a way for players to self-regulate and that many fans head to stadiums in the hope of seeing a good scrap. However, the stats collected by Betway NHL speak for themselves. There merely is less fighting in the NHL than ever. In the 2010/2011 season, there were 1,300 fighting majors. By the end of the 2019/2020 season, the figure had dropped to 388, a 70% reduction.
The Future of Fighting in the NHL
It seems that players themselves are less prone to starting a fight and prefer to play world-class hockey. Every statistic about fighting in hockey shows a decrease, and that pattern looks set to continue as we head into a new season. What this means as we move forward is unclear. The debate about the place of fighting in the sport continues to rage, and those teams with the worst reputations will be forced to look closely at their existing playing styles if they hope to attract the big sponsors.
Whether fighting in hockey will be banned, regulated, or embraced even further remains to be seen. Whatever decision is finally reached, the long-term impact could mean that tomorrow’s hockey looks very different indeed.
Related
Related posts
Top picks
ROAD WARRIORS LOST TO RABBITS; SWAMP RABBTS IMPRESSIVE IN DEFEAT
SOLAR BEARS TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH OVERTIME WIN Orlando puts Greenville on the brink despite Colton Young’s 3-point night, Bobby Russell’s pair of goals By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits ORLANDO, Fla. – Despite a high-scoring affair, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits fell to the Orlando…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
GARAND AND WOLF PACK ELIMINATE CHECKERS IN 3
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack CHARLOTTE, NC – Dylan Garand made a playoff career-high 39 saves on Sunday afternoon to help the Hartford Wolf Pack complete their First Round series victory over the Charlotte Checkers. The Wolf Pack used a five-on-five, powerplay, and shorthanded…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
GARAND AND WOLF PACK ELIMINATE CHECKERS IN 3
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack CHARLOTTE, NC – Dylan Garand made a playoff career-high 39 saves on Sunday afternoon to help the Hartford Wolf Pack complete their First Round series victory over the Charlotte Checkers. The Wolf Pack used a five-on-five, powerplay, and shorthanded…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…
Stay connected with ours socials