I’m against it, but it’s not up to me or any other fan or pundit. If the majority of the players want the instigator rule removed, then the league should honour their decision, since, after all, they’re “partners” now.

I doubt it’ll eliminate the head shots and stick fouls, but it’s the players who play the game and it’s up to them if they want it removed or not.

Posted by Lyle Richardson from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 11/23/07 at 07:52 AM ET

A couple of things.  I don’t remember THE PLAYERS leaving in the instigator last year.  Simply put, that is not their decision.  It was THE OWNERS that left in the instigator last year and apparently it was a close vote… that word I got from Ted Leonsis via email. 

Eric Lindros has been a huge proponent of going around the league and doing in-game interviews and saying that players want it gone.  Now it appears that the NHLPA is making a strong push by going around to individual teams and grabbing opinions on the topic (yes Lindros is a part of the NHLPA). 

So we’ll see what happens.  The owners cannot continue to ignore this topic.  And with a close vote last year, all the NHLPA needs to do is convince a few more owners.

Posted by siggy on 11/23/07 at 08:29 AM ET

And, of yes, EVERY fan poll that asks about the instigators ALWAYS ends in an overwhelming win for the removal of the instigator.

So the overwhelming majority of the fans want it gone.  And the overwhelming majority of the fans want it gone too.

Am I missing something?  Who else matters?

Posted by siggy on 11/23/07 at 08:31 AM ET

Man I need coffee this morning.........

And, oh yes, EVERY fan poll that asks about the instigators ALWAYS ends in an overwhelming win for the removal of the instigator.

So the overwhelming majority of the fans want it gone.  And the overwhelming majority of the players want it gone too.

Am I missing something?  Who else matters?

Posted by siggy on 11/23/07 at 08:32 AM ET

Giving the fans what they want would certainly be a novel idea for the NHL, thus I wouldn’t expect the league to action that.

But if the majority of the PA membership wants it gone, if a significant number of owners want it gone, and if as the league claims they have a “partnership” with their employees (players), then it’s time for the league to listen to their employees. That’s why they have a competition committee, which implemented those rule changes after the lockout.

If there’s enough support for this then when the committee meets again it’ll probably be the priority topic on the table.

Posted by Lyle Richardson from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 11/23/07 at 08:52 AM ET

I’ll also add that I wouldn’t see this changing the game too much.  Tough guys walk a thin line as it is these days.  When they DO take justice into their own hands, you have a section of fans and writers that whine when the other team scores on the powerplay that follows.  When they don’t do it, fans and writers question whether or not they know their role.  Case in point… Georges Laraque a few weeks ago.  Writers were all over him with speculation that his teammates were upset at him for not playing like an enforcer should.  But if Georges does take a seven minute package for beating on a sure-to-be turtling Sean Avery, for instance, he’ll be sitting in the penalty box wondering if there’ll be a pink slip in his locker the next day.  It’s a fine line.

Posted by siggy on 11/23/07 at 12:47 PM ET