Quote:Written Task:  What are your thoughts on fighting in hockey? It's definitely a lot less common these days, do you think that's a good thing? Do you think it has a place in the game, or that it's overdue to disappear entirely? Maybe you wish it happened more often? In your opinion, what circumstances justify a hockey fight? Specific things? Any time you want for entertainment's sake? Tell me your thoughts! (150+ words)

Being an old fart, I grew up absolutely adoring fighting in hockey and believed it was 110% necessary and anyone who thought otherwise was ignorant. This was back in the day of Probert, Domi, Hunter, Odjick so it was a pretty common opinion back then.

Over the years though, I've seen not only the toll it has taken on those guys but that a lot of the arguments for fighting never really pass scrutiny. One of the main arguments is that it stops the dirty plays to have to atone for your actions. The amount of dirty knee'ing and headshots have been reduced drastically just by enforcing rules rather than some traditionalistic fighting threat.

I think what the NHL is doing to curb fighting has been generally good for the game and its growth. Stopping it cold turkey is too big of a step for a lot of the hard core fans so a slow weaning off of it has been smart.

Now being old, I'm on the side of removing it. Not necessarily this year or next but a gradual decline is good imo.

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