Are the playoffs becoming too violent?

[Mike C]

Violent?
Did you watch the playoffs from 1970 through the early part of this century? Broad Street Bullies? Big Bad Bruins? Calgary vs Edmonton any series? Game 1 of the Kings-Maple Leafs Semi Final Series in 92-93?
If you think this playoff season is violent, I advise you NOT to look at replays of playoff series from that eras or you will swear off hockey forever and become a lifetime season ticket holder to Disney on Ice.

Staring Capades Barzal!

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

The Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992 and 1993. That was the first major league championship for Canada (excluding the NHL) I believe, assuming that's what you were referring to. Your second statement is correct; it was the first NBA championship won by a team based in Canada.

That's true, but dumbass was trying to say it was the first for Canada in basketball, but I repeated myself, but in a different way.

Me fail English ? That's unpossable.

 

[Mike C]

No.

We like to complain about hockey

And watch NASCAR for the car going round and round and not the accidents!

 

[Summer Rose]

That's true, but dumbass was trying to say it was the first for Canada in basketball, but I repeated myself, but in a different way.

Me fail English ? That's unpossable.

Meanwhile, Canadian teams are undefeated in the Canadian Elite Basketball League!

 

[HockeyVirus]

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.

Funny I would say the NHL not punishing any of the many headshots up until that point allowed it to get to where Domi felt he had to send a message. Minutes earlier there was a blatant headshot to Marner... Panthers did send a Leaf to the hospital.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Bring back line brawls and toss the instigator rule in the garbage

 

[Legend123]

Much to the chagrin for marner

 

[Sasha Orlov]

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.

But Sportsnet said it was a good hit

 

[voyageur]

Anyone who grew watching Dale Hunter, Claude Lemieux, Kenny Linseman, Glen Anderson saw the rat era of hockey. Dirty as hell. Never hesitate to throw an extra cheap shot out there. Elbow goalies in the head, slash them, whatever it takes. 80s was still bad blood brawl hockey. 90s hockey was faster, more skilled and more violent, especially the impact of hits. Dead puck hockey was too boring to be violent. Maybe Scott Stevens. would try to kill somebody cutting through the middle. Derian Hatcher types. The game became bigger but not more skilled. Once the trap became the way to win, the tone of the game went down, to being positionally sound at all times defensively.

Hockey now isn't all that violent. It's just dirty. Closer to the 90s era, but even faster. The instigator rule is perfect for rat hockey. At least you had to be scared in the 90s someone was going to tag you if you crossed the line.

 

[My3Sons]

Right now the league has plausible deniability. If some team throws the first game of a series icing a lineup with depth players and obviously and intentionally takes run after run at the heads of the best players on the opponent and running over th goalie maybe the league woukd be forced to act. I think the reality is that this is on the players. If the NHLPA wanted the game to be made safer they could make that an issue but we don’t hear anything from them about this.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

The fact the end of the Florida game ran the clock through the final penalty and scrum to avoid any further alterations shows just how desperately this version of the NHL avoids rivalries and emotion.

That was a prime opportunity to see some hatred on the ice.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Funny I would say the NHL not punishing any of the many headshots up until that point allowed it to get to where Domi felt he had to send a message. Minutes earlier there was a blatant headshot to Marner... Panthers did send a Leaf to the hospital.

"Had to send a message" that is absurd and homer. Toronto was obliterating Florida players away from the puck that very game! As much as I enjoy seeing Tkachuk earn what he does to others it was very much a cheapshot by Toronto.

Domi throws tantrums frequently.

 

[Mike C]

Bring back line brawls and toss the instigator rule in the garbage

My kinda fella!!

 

[nbwingsfan]

far from it

There was more violence in any single Wings vs Avs game than these entire playoffs combined

 

[Mike C]

Right now the league has plausible deniability. If some team throws the first game of a series icing a lineup with depth players and obviously and intentionally takes run after run at the heads of the best players on the opponent and running over th goalie maybe the league woukd be forced to act. I think the reality is that this is on the players. If the NHLPA wanted the game to be made safer they could make that an issue but we don’t hear anything from them about this.

Look at that nonsense of not blowing the whistle on scrums in the corner

Knies was committing criminal activity trying to get the puck at the end of the game

Blow the GD whistle on those plays then let me know about player "safety:

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

far from it

It isn't even close. It is. Extremely soft across the rounds.

 

[LaffyTaffy13]

Nah. The sport needs more violence and hate. The more violence and hate, the more entertaining the product and higher the ratings.

See Nations, 4, February 2025.

 

[LaffyTaffy13]

Must be a new fan. This is the most neutered playoffs I’ve ever seen.

There hasnt been a single fight. The new age fans want hitting to be illegal. Luckily they are an extreme minority. Evidenced by 4 nations. The people want tenacity and violence.

 

[Oilslick941611]

It isn't even close. It is. Extremely soft across the rounds.

with a major increase in cheap shots.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

with a major increase in cheap shots.

Absolutely yes. But that is a different story from how neutered and soft the games themselves have been. In my opinion.

 

[dogbazinho]

Playoffs have become increasing violent as some teams have learned that with game management trying to even the calls the team with the more violent offenses get an advantage.

 

[Number8]

OK I am the old guy. Been watching pretty damn obsessively since I was a small boy in the early 70’s.

I really don’t know how to respond to this thread.

Makes me kind of worried, if I’m being honest.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Absolutely yes. But that is a different story from how neutered and soft the games themselves have been. In my opinion.

it all stems from lack of league intervention. My arugment isn't the league is less violent, its that the league is more cheap shot and head hunting than in the past because no one is held accountable on the ice or by the refs and DOPS.

 

[Bileur]

These are possibly the softest playoffs I’ve seen.

 

[Ghost of Murph]

More violent? Hell no. Been watching playoffs since the 70s. Soft as baby shit now compared to previous eras. More cowardly? Yep. Players no longer have to be held accountable due to DoPS being inconsistent and of course the instigator rule. Therefore rats gonna rat.