I miss Enforcers

[Your Boy Troy]

Maybe it's because I have an old school mentality, but does anyone miss seeing enforcers in hockey?

The Leafs for an example were very entertaining to watch from the last few seasons. With Frazer McLaren and Colton Orr in the line-up; they could make games more entertaining. I still watch the Leafs, but they don't play with the same emotion that they used to. I appreciate watching the skill of JVR or Kessel. But, there have been games this season that were so damn boring (to me anyway). I don't need to see a fight in hockey to be entertained. Although it would be nice to see some emotional in the game.

Say what you want about enforcers; these are players that seem to give their best effort every shift. Even if they're not talented. I cannot stand watching players like David Booth or Matt Frattin.

Click to read more...

 

[Big Phil]

You have to play the game though, remember. In the Original 6 there was too much competition for a guy to only be able to fight and do nothing else. The same can be said today. Don Cherry himself who has always been in the pro-fighting corner even said he didn't like seeing a guy play just two minutes a game to go out and fight. His Bruins rolled 4 lines when he coached them. That's why they had the record of 11 20-goal scorers in one season. He had one of the toughest teams ever and he still wanted his players to be involved.

So while the word "enforcer" for some reason is a bad word today, I think we have to remember that the likes of Probert and Domi and Schultz were enforcers. McSorley was an enforcer. Clark Gillies was an enforcer. But they could all play and contribute. They will always be in the game, don't worry.

 

[Steve]

I loved the "Enforcer" of the 90's that policed the game and kept people honest. I must admit though, that I'm happy to see the "Goon" essentially eliminated from the game.

I want fighting in hockey and thoroughly enjoy it but I want someone who can play as well as be physical and protect the stereotypical skilled players.

I want to see fights between 2 people who are mad at each other or retaliatory from one crossing a line etc... not the fight for the hell of it type.

 

[Mike Martin]

I loved the "Enforcer" of the 90's that policed the game and kept people honest. I must admit though, that I'm happy to see the "Goon" essentially eliminated from the game.

I want fighting in hockey and thoroughly enjoy it but I want someone who can play as well as be physical and protect the stereotypical skilled players.

I want to see fights between 2 people who are mad at each other or retaliatory from one crossing a line etc... not the fight for the hell of it type.

No one cared why someone was fighting before the media started promoting this propaganda term of "staged fighting". Do you seriously think that the legendary fights between Bob Probert and Tie Domi weren't "staged"? And yet fans sure didn't complain about it during that era.

 

[Steve]

No one cared why someone was fighting before the media started promoting this propaganda term of "staged fighting". Do you seriously think that the legendary fights between Bob Probert and Tie Domi weren't "staged"? And yet fans sure didn't complain about it during that era.

Yes I do, believe they were staged, to some extent. ie some of the fights like the ones you suggested were certainly planned but these 2 weren't only fighters.

My comment was simply to state that I love the fighting in the game but don't care for the players who can't skate/play. ie I would rather Domi/Probert than Gillies/Orr. I have also preferred the fights between 2 people who are pissed off at each other, rather than the square up and ask each other if they want to go.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The whole concept of an enforcer was based around having something to enforce.

The goons of the past decade weren't enforcing squat. They were floating around for 7 minutes a game and then wrestling each other for no reason.

I'd love to see enforcers come back, but you can keep the John Scotts.

 

[GMR]

I miss them.

I miss seeing more than 10 guys hit 300 PIM every year. My favorite enforcers are usually the ones who don't contribute anything offensively. Whether they were a gimmick or not, I miss them.

Nowadays, we have middleweights who can fight a little, score, and put fans to sleep. Not a fan of that.

 

[txpd]

sounds like you miss the flyers of the 70s.

nobody wants to talk about this but the nhl of today is a league where every game is on tv and cameras catch everything that happened. in the old days of one referee a guy like the rat or moose DuPont or dale hunter would spear your star player behind the ref. a few fans and a few players would see it.

now all of north America sees it and the guy gets a 10 game suspension.

its like pining away over the good ole days when cars didn't have seat belts and you weren't required to wear them

 

[BudMovin*]

I loved the "Enforcer" of the 90's that policed the game and kept people honest. I must admit though, that I'm happy to see the "Goon" essentially eliminated from the game.

I want fighting in hockey and thoroughly enjoy it but I want someone who can play as well as be physical and protect the stereotypical skilled players.

I want to see fights between 2 people who are mad at each other or retaliatory from one crossing a line etc... not the fight for the hell of it type.

Agreed. Those sideshows should be relegated to the WWE. Hockey is a sport based on skill. Everyone that plays it at the highest level should have at least some. Watch the LNAH if you want straight goonery.

 

[Moose Head]

If rather have guys who hit, fight and can play the game, rather than one dimensional super goons. You really should be good enough that your coach is confident in playing you >=10mins.

 

[goon]

Are the Days of the Enforcer Numbered in the NHL? ... I think they are.

 

[Neil Hamburger]

Not one bit. I like fights that happen in the heat of the moment, staged fights make hockey look like a joke imo.

 

[Oscar Acosta]

Staged fights between two jokes I don't miss.

I miss the players in the heat of the moment going at it, see Bob Nystrom fights for example.

 

[mygameworn]

Not one bit. I like fights that happen in the heat of the moment, staged fights make hockey look like a joke imo.

Staged fights between two jokes I don't miss.

I miss the players in the heat of the moment going at it, see Bob Nystrom fights for example.

Again with the staged fights nonsense.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

The Leafs for an example were very entertaining to watch from the last few seasons. With Frazer McLaren and Colton Orr in the line-up; they could make games more entertaining. I still watch the Leafs, but they don't play with the same emotion that they used to. I appreciate watching the skill of JVR or Kessel. But, there have been games this season that were so damn boring (to me anyway). I don't need to see a fight in hockey to be entertained. Although it would be nice to see some emotional in the game.

Say what you want about enforcers; these are players that seem to give their best effort every shift. Even if they're not talented. I cannot stand watching players like David Booth or Matt Frattin.

With all due respect, this has to be a joke. If stiffs like McLaren and Orr are what's considered as making the game more entertaining (all 3 minutes worth they played), the league's screwed.

I agree with the staged fights sentiment. Two "enforcers" fighting for the sake of it? Spare me and give me my 45 seconds back. Heat-of-the-moment Iggy vs. Lecavalier type fights? Those are fine to see every so often.

 

[Neil Hamburger]

Again with the staged fights nonsense.

Colton Orr fought 74 times as a Maple Leaf. I watched pretty much all of them, and probably 80 % of them were immediately off a face-off against some other meat-head who's only job was to punch other meat-heads. To me, that's not a real part of the game of hockey.

No one has been taking liberties or cheap shots against the Leafs in Orr & McLaren's absence either... maybe because most of the other meat-heads who have a tendency of doing so are finally being filtered out of the game too.

As a fan of skilled players making skilled plays, I couldn't be happier. As a fan of fast-paced, physical, intense hockey, I've been happy to watch a fourth line that can actually cycle and control the play at times. As a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, I'm glad we have a player who has more career goals, assists, and points than Colton Orr despite having played less than 25 % of the number of games (Richard Panik).

Conclusion: There's no place in the NHL for pure enforcers.

 

[jgimb]

I don't who wants to watch players who wouldn't even tear up beer leagues play in the league who is supposed to have the best in the world.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I certainly miss the way the game was played when they were around, that's for sure.

Everybody now wants four lines who can play both ends of the ice. I much preferred the game when the superstars played a LOT, and they double-shifted with the fourth liners from time to time. In that scenario, there was always room for a fourth liner who played 3-6 minutes/game and protected the superstars.

Nowadays, everybody is trying to develop players who play like everybody else. I liked the era of role players.

 

[Snakepit]

I hate the term 'staged fight' being thrown around to put down fighting, and agree if it wasn't for the media creating an issue, nobody would care. It still serves a purpose, to fire up your team, and it's not like it's some sideshow attraction.

Watching Brian McGrattan landing heavy rights is one of the most exciting things to watch in the regular season.

 

[Neil Hamburger]

I hate the term 'staged fight' being thrown around to put down fighting, and agree if it wasn't for the media creating an issue, nobody would care. It still serves a purpose, to fire up your team, and it's not like it's some sideshow attraction.

Watching Brian McGrattan landing heavy rights is one of the most exciting things to watch in the regular season.

It's not being thrown around to put down fighting, its being thrown around to put down goons who do nothing but fight off the face-off. I love to watch two hockey players get into it after a big hit or intense battle; I hate watching two on-ice boxers fight off a face-off in order to justify their existence.

Watching Colton Orr cough up the puck time and time again was one of the most infuriating things to watch in any hockey game; I'm glad I no longer have to.

A fight can be a good way to fire up your team, but I personally would not be fired up one bit watching a guy like Colton Orr fight Brian McGrattan off the face-off. Especially knowing that's the only reason those clowns are in the line-up, when much better players are available who could actually make a contribution on the ice.

A big hit, a gutsy blocked shot, a nice play, a goal, or a real hockey player fighting in the heat of the moment on the other hand, would definitely bring me off my feet.

 

[Banana Sandwiches]

I miss enforcers (or goons if you want to call them that) too.

I think they serve a purpose and I happen to enjoy fighting in hockey.


As for "staged fights," can someone please tell me what a staged fight actually is? If people categorized a staged fight as a fight off a face-off, then I'm not afraid to admit that I like staged fights then.

 

[Puck possession wins]

I miss enforcers (or goons if you want to call them that) too.

I think they serve a purpose and I happen to enjoy fighting in hockey.


As for "staged fights," can someone please tell me what a staged fight actually is? If people categorized a staged fight as a fight off a face-off, then I'm not afraid to admit that I like staged fights then.

Look up Laraque Funny Mic'd up on youtube and go to the 40 second mark. That's staged fighting we talk about. The kind wending want in the game.

 

[Terrapin]

Sure I miss enforcers, goons, meatheads, etc. I watch hockey for the same reason I watch anything else: entertainment. Would I rather watch two giants slug each other for 30 seconds, or watch some no-name 4th liners try to cycle the puck for 30 seconds?

That being said, the 'staged' fighting is usually kinda lame. Enforcers still have a purpose. Playing one shift a night to fight the other goon isn't it.

 

[Mike Martin]

It's not being thrown around to put down fighting, its being thrown around to put down goons who do nothing but fight off the face-off. I love to watch two hockey players get into it after a big hit or intense battle; I hate watching two on-ice boxers fight off a face-off in order to justify their existence.

Watching Colton Orr cough up the puck time and time again was one of the most infuriating things to watch in any hockey game; I'm glad I no longer have to.

A fight can be a good way to fire up your team, but I personally would not be fired up one bit watching a guy like Colton Orr fight Brian McGrattan off the face-off. Especially knowing that's the only reason those clowns are in the line-up, when much better players are available who could actually make a contribution on the ice.

A big hit, a gutsy blocked shot, a nice play, a goal, or a real hockey player fighting in the heat of the moment on the other hand, would definitely bring me off my feet.

All of them are "real" hockey players including Carter Ashton who can neither fight nor score and he's what has replaced your dreaded Colton Orr. Most of these so-called "heat of the moment" fights barely have any punches landing at all and they are more slapfests or hugfests from players who don't know how to fight in the first place. Sorry but I'd rather watch someone who actually knows how to fight regardless of how "staged" it is.

 

[Mike Martin]

Look up Laraque Funny Mic'd up on youtube and go to the 40 second mark. That's staged fighting we talk about. The kind wending want in the game.

So because two players verbally agree to fight that makes it "staged"? No, it is called not wanting to get the instigator penalty.