[dbwz]

Hmm. To me the amount of fighting has dropped off dramatically from when I first started watching the NHL in the late 80's. Bench-clearing free-for-alls have been all but eliminated by league rules put in place.

The "removing an opponents spleen with their hockey sticks" comment has a ring of truth to it. Take out the fighting altogether, and I think you will see more stick work as players use whatever is at their disposal to try to gain an advantage. It's an aggressive game, and if guys feel the need to drop the gloves and get it out of their systems, so be it.

If I want to watch a bunch of players pussy-footing around a large playing surface, I'll find a soccer game.

[wbill]

Take out the fighting altogether, and I think you will see more stick work as players use whatever is at their disposal to try to gain an advantage.

Not to keep beating a dead horse, but there's no (or not much) fighting in college hockey. Drop the gloves, and there's an automatic 1 game suspension.

The result? The game is faster and the hitting is much, much harder. I'd rather watch a guy get his bell rung with a good clean open ice hit, than two goons dance around with each other at the blue line.