Originally posted by RT and his SE:
Originally posted by teamSVTour:
its part of the game.



No it's not. The NHL's new rules would seem to favor a much more wide open game with less clutch and grab that slows play and leads to elbow, sticks and fist being thrown. "Goon" is no longer a position on most NHL teams and the fans seem to like it.



YES it is. The new rules may be geared to less clutching and grabbing, etc. but the fact of the matter is IT STILL IS and will always be part of the game until the league bans it altogether which I highly doubt. Fighting is engraved in the roots of hockey. Years ago when fighting was prominent, teams dressed players simply for their fighting ability. Fighters like Probert, Domi, Tony Twist, Rob Ray, Sandy McCarthy, Dennis Bonvie, Joey Kocur, Craig Berube, etc. were there to protect the stars on the team and to spark some energy when the team needed it.

To say that today there is no "goons" is incorrect. Fighters like Brashier do the exact same thing. He played 76 games in 05-06, had 9 points and 166 penalty minutes. He's a goon, w/ enough talent to get by in the NHL. They are there to serve a purpose and that is to protect the franchise players. Just about every team has one guy they can throw on the ice to send a message. Most of these guys (not all) are 5th line players that see very minimal ice time. Once again it is not their role to be on the ice often, they are not point getters, check their stats. Lastly, have you ever been to a hockey game? Any time a fight breaks out the crowd really gets into it. True hockey fans love the sport for what it is...and fighting is a part of it.

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