If the NHL were to transform the league into a European style of game, it would fail. 

The finesse of hockey, by itself, is not enough to entertain most North Americans.  The game would be too one-dimensional.

5% - 6% of concussions occur from fighting.  At some point, many of the yuppie writers (e.g. Damien Cox) will recognize that and move on.

Posted by Sig on 09/29/11 at 10:51 PM ET

...we have to also looking at fighting,” said Shanahan

This is not going to sit well with Mickey Redmond.

Posted by OlderThanChelios on 09/29/11 at 11:38 PM ET

Maybe it’ll be just pretend fighting.

No concussions on that one.

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 09/29/11 at 11:51 PM ET

“We’re definitely very serious in making advancements in studying blows to the head, we have to also looking at fighting,” said Shanahan.

Unless there’s something I’m missing, this really means nothing.  We have to look at fighting gives zero context.  Is he looking at eliminating fighting or curbing the stupid planned fights?

Of course, asking for some clarification from a guy who said that’s something we’re obviously going to have to look at, but there’s no way we would ever deny that it’s not something we’re looking at closely, I might be barking up the wrong tree.

Posted by Garth on 09/30/11 at 09:21 AM ET

If the NHL were to transform the league into a European style of game, it would fail. 

I wouldn’t argue with that, but is that really the choice we have?  Don’t think so.  Let’s not confuse fighting with hitting.  The (almost completely) fight-free playoffs are pretty damn good hockey.  The Olympics, too, were rather intense and entertaining.

I understand some people like fighting, and I accept that.  But I refuse to accept that hockey without fighting is not worth watching—the evidence simply doesn’t bear that out.  People who think fight-free hockey would not be attractive are really selling the game short, IMO.

Posted by Lex Talionis on 09/30/11 at 09:39 AM ET

First hockey, then boxing…then extreme fighting

Posted by TheFreak on 09/30/11 at 09:51 AM ET

Posted by Lex Talionis on 09/30/11 at 09:39 AM ET

+infinity

The only fighting they need to get rid of are the 230+ lb. guys who step up to the faceoff, glance at each other, then with a wink and a nod drop the gloves and proceed to try to smash the other’s face in.  Fighting in the heat of the moment (Datsyuk vs Perry is a GREAT example) is something that sets the sport apart from the other mainstream offerings, and to remove something like that would be a shame.

Would it make the game unbearable?  Not even close.  Would I stop watching hockey because of it?  HELL no.  People who say they would are probably the same ones who watch NASCAR just for the crashes.

Posted by RedMenace from the darkest recesses on 09/30/11 at 10:29 AM ET