I'm not going to argue %'s w/ you. Fighting is rooted in hockey, it is still part of the game, it always will be.
As far as true hockey fan loyalty I feel the sport of hockey has taken a huge hit from the lock-out. In an attempt to try to acquire new fans the league implements this "new style and new rules". The game is totally different. The league takes out original rules such as the "two line offside pass" as a means to "open the game up". All this did was enable cherry picking in an effort to increase scoring as a means to attract new fans
. So under this logic should the NBA move up the 3-point line so there will be more 3 pointers or the NFL shorten the field so there are more touchdowns? Since when does the number of points scored determine the acceptance of a sport? Look at soccer. Its the most popular sport in the world and is recognized by its relatively low scoring games. You don't see FIFA getting rid of offsides like the the NHL got rid of the two line offside pass in an attempt to acquire new fans. And of course the goals per game will be up when the defensemen can't even play the body like they used to w/out getting a "new style" penalty. It's ridiculous. I myself have been playing hockey since I could walk. I have played all the way through the ranks from squirt to semi-pro until I had a career ending shoulder injury. Many people I grew up around the game w/ very rarely even bother watching anymore b/c of the "new style". If you want to watch a high scoring sport watch basketball.
As far as fighters being a dying breed your wrong that's all I can say. Like I said each team has one guy that can drop the gloves. Brashier gets his paychecks b/c he fights and can send a message physically. Why do you think he was just signed to the Capitols to protect Ovechkin?? As long as there are franchise players, there will be players paid to protect them.
If you don't like to see an occasional fight then watch golf.
