From what I understand, the trend away from fights is not a good thing. Fights are outlets and tools to hold dirty players accountable. With that tool restricted, well, your only recourse for a cheap hit is to hit their guy harder. Take out retribution on their winger for doing your winger wrong rather than drop the gloves and take it up with the one who hit your winger in the first place. More severe injuries on players who are only guilty by association.

The right circumstances for a fight are either holding a player accountable for bad behavior. Someone who gives your goalie a snow shower just because they can. If you think a fight will boost your team's morale or crush the opponents', you bear the risk.

Or if you just wanna fight for the hell of it or to put on a show or to make up for lost time, go for it. Again, you bear the risk. I would think the only unacceptable reasons would fall along the lines of "salt" or for personal vendettas that it won't help anyone to try to settle. I don't know a ton on it, since I didn't play or grow up steeped in hockey culture.