Are the playoffs becoming too violent?

[OysterForever]

There have been dirty plays nearly every night in the playoffs. Lack of respect for opponents is astonishing and teams are trying to take out each other’s biggest stars. This is because the punishments for attempts to injure are either far too lenient or not given at all.

This issue could easily be addressed, but Bettman and Parros do nothing about it. That’s because they think violence could draw in new viewers, who now eagerly wait to see who will retaliate and how.

Apparently, the NHL wants to see star players taken out night after night. Hockey is a physical and tough sport, but there’s nothing tough about blindsiding or hitting a defenseless player from behind.

Right now we are not far from career ending injury any given night.

 

[jiitu]

Yes. NHL has forgot to come to the current millenium. Looks like, somestar player have to die on ice before the circus realizes that this has no sense.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

The league is generally softer than it ever has been before but yeah they need to get a handle on the cross checks to the face specifically

 

[Sayba]

You have to remove the slashing and cross checking from the game, sorry that’s not physical hockey to me. I think maybe in the playoffs that penalties at the end of games should carry over to the next game, easy way to get rid of the late game nonsense. Then you have to have someone competent in charge of DOPS who actually is willing to enforce suspensions and make it clear to the players that intent to injure / dirty plays will have consequences.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Sleazebag plays are up but that's coward stuff. NHL is to blame for that. I think they could be handling stuff way better than they have. Letting things get out of hand in those instances.

 

[Grifter3511]

Thread 'What happened to playoff hockey?'

Apr 23, 2025

Are you enjoying playoff hockey compared to years past?

It was always a different game when the playoffs started. Things were rough and it was a war every shift especially in the 1st round



Do you like what the game has become or do you miss that rougher style?

It seems things are just way softer and maybe that’s what the league wants

• The Shadow
• Replies: 114
• Forum: Stanley Cup Playoffs

• 

Took all of two weeks to go from too soft to too violent.

 

[Sendhelp2Anaheim]

Seems like skilled teams like Florida have to change up their game to compete physically with the lesser talented gooner squads like Toronto

 

[tarheelhockey]

The Domi hit on Barkov was really egregious and the league was lucky it didn’t send the defending Selke winner to the ICU.

The league responded with a $5K fine, no suspension.

That tells you all you need to know.

 

[5 Minute Major]

People tune into violence.

 

[JarvisFunk]

The league has never been LESS violent

 

[Bender Duster]

I can't tell if half the posts in this thread are satire or not...

 

[Phil Kessels Hot Dog]

Nah.Fans are getting softer.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

The refs are trash. They let muggings go and then call a tacky little slash or trip.

 

[Panteras]

Did you all start following hockey yesterday? My god….

 

[Garbageyuk]

It’s always been like this, and was much worse in the past.

 

[KJoe88]

There have been dirty plays nearly every night in the playoffs. Lack of respect for opponents is astonishing and teams are trying to take out each other’s biggest stars. This is because the punishments for attempts to injure are either far too lenient or not given at all.

This issue could easily be addressed, but Bettman and Parros do nothing about it. That’s because they think violence could draw in new viewers, who now eagerly wait to see who will retaliate and how.

Apparently, the NHL wants to see star players taken out night after night. Hockey is a physical and tough sport, but there’s nothing tough about blindsiding or hitting a defenseless player from behind.

Right now we are not far from career ending injury any given night.

Clearly you weren’t around during the Wings/Avs rivalry or in the 90s/00s.

The league does everything it can to keep it tame.

 

[goldenblack]

We could ban all contact

 

[boredmale]

Call me when the players go into the crowd and hit the fans with shoes

 

[OysterForever]

Call me when the players go into the crowd and hit the fans with shoes

Is McDavid eating popcorn there or why should I care?

 

[OysterForever]

We could ban all contact

Did you even read past the title? I am fine with physical play but intent to injure doesn't belong to hockey.

 

[Megustaelhockey]

The playoffs are not violent enough.

The playoffs are too violent.

Do hockey fans like hockey? I'm still not sure.

 

[M88K]

The playoffs are not violent enough.

The playoffs are too violent.

Do hockey fans like hockey? I'm still not sure.

No.

We like to complain about hockey

 

[GrumpyKoala]

Becoming????
Hold on......

 

[boredmale]

Is McDavid eating popcorn there or why should I care?

 

[OysterForever]

I know..

Those guys chose to fight, most of the stars getting injured didn't.