hector morrison
Registered User
- Apr 1, 2018
- 4,792
- 1,998
The physical stuff causes problems the league ultimately doesn't want to deal with. Legal stuff...like concussion issues/liability,etc. They don't want to be seen as being able to do something about it ,yet use the excuse that 'this is what the fans pay to see'... but the optics are bad when trying to justify head injuries and the like, even if the players willingly signed on to accept fighting ,some lawyer can make misery for the league in being negligent should that player get seriously hurt.
Right now,in this era of hockey ,we are witnessing a different type of game.Newer fans won't necessarily notice ...Older fans will possibly turn away altogether(i have considered it). I think teams are trying to find that skill/toughness balance...not an easy task!
I think you might be on to something here. The game has gotten much faster since the elimination of the red line, and if there are Scott Stevens style hits with this speed, guys are going to get hurt. Basic physics right there.
Sometimes the speed is entertaining, but when you play a defence first, tough team, it seems to shut right now.
Then the playoffs come, the whistles are put away, and the players know this. Just look at Jake Debrusk in Game two last year, he just went full bore rat, hacking and smashing at everyone, and nothing came of it till Kadri took him out. It shouldn't have got that far.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, relying on the refs is not a good idea! Ultimately,this what the Leaf brain trust is stuck with. They are complying with what the league says it wants,not policing themselves ,not taking matters into their own hands...and how are they making out with that strategy of compliance ? Looks to me they've been getting shafted in the last 4 years. If this keeps up,if the Leaf brass don't say something or change their ways,then all of this marvelous young talent will be wasted
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