BEAR WITH ME A MINUTE WHILE I RE-VISIT THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING FIGHTING IN THE NHL. AT THE OUTSET LET ME SAY THAT I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE WHO THINKS FIGHTING SHOULD BE BANNED FROM HOCKEY. IT'S A TOUGH GAME AND TEMPERS CAN GET THE BEST OF EVEN THE MOST DISCIPLINED PLAYERS. HOWEVER, THE USE OF FIGHTING AS A COACHING TOOL IS ANOTHER MATTER. FOR IT'S OWN CREDIBILITY THE NHL HAS TO DEAL WITH THE SERIAL OFFENDERS.
CONSIDER THIS: THE CANADIENS HAVE BEEN INOLVED IN A TOTAL OF 16 FIGHTS THIS SEASON. HALF OF THOSE FIGHTS HAVE INVOLVED AARON DOWNEY AND GARTH MURRAY, NEITHER OF WHOM WOULD BE IN THE LEAGUE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO BE ENFORCERS. THE MINNESOTA WILD HAVE THE SECOND FEWEST FIGHTS IN THE LEAGUE AT 12. 9 OF THOSE INVOLVING DEREK BOOGARD. COLORADO...20 FIGHTS...IAN LAPERRIERE FOUGHT IN 16 OF THEM. AND SO IT GOES THROUGHOUT THE LEAGUE. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN ROSTER SIZE PREVENTED TEAMS FROM STOCKPILING GOONS. THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION WILL NEVER ALLOW ROSTERS TO SHRINK. IF THERE'S ANY WILL IN THE NHL FRONT OFFICE..AND I DON'T SENSE IT..THE EASIEST WAY TO ELIMINATE THE GOON IS TO FINE AND SUSPEND THE HABITUAL OFFENDERS UNTIL THEY HAVE NO REASON TO BE IN ANYONE'S LINEUP. BOB GAINEYIS PROBABLY THE MOST DISCIPLINED PLAYER I'VE EVER SEEN AND OVER THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER HE'S SEEN FIT TO RESORT TO FISTICUFFS. IT HAPPENS IN A GAME LIKE HOCKEY. A SPONTANEOUS RE-ACTION OF A PERCEIVED FOUL NOT SOMETHING THE COACH ORDERED UP. AS MY OLD BROADCAST PARTNER DAN KELLY ONCE SAID "I WOULDN'T PAY A DIME TO WATCH DAVE SCHULTZ FIGHT PIERRE BOUCHARD. HOWEVER I'D PAY SCALPERS PRICES TO SEE HENRI RICHARD FIGHT DICK DUFF."
IT'S ALL A MATTER OF HONEST EMOTION.
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