News Article: Fluto: With decline of fighting, Bruins lose a key part of their game

[KrejciMVP]

The facts havent supported that in over a decade.
There are a handful of enforcers nowadays. Many nightly scratches. While skilled players get their clocks cleaned routinely.

Days gone by............

I agree, but Im never against having a few tough guys out there who can rough it up when needed.

 

[Ratty]

Enforcers gotta have them. Protects the stars from cheap shots

That's what the refs are supposed to be for. If they did their jobs and didn't shy away from separating combatants before they become combatants, the problem would be ameliorated at least.

Even if(when) fighting is reduced, we'd still have hard, clean body checking and physical play in the corners and around the boards. If that were taken away, I, too, would find the games boring.

 

[Gee Wally]

From todays Herald

Another factor in tepid interest? Neely’s team is not exactly the Big, Bad Bruins anymore, a persona with which the fan base has always identified. Fighting is waning in the league, but the demise of the big, physical team has been greatly exaggerated, as evidenced by the difficulty the B’s have had with the Kings and Ducks.

“The game is certainly changing. You’re not going to have a guy that can’t play but can fight. That’s long gone. But I remember a lot of comments when we lost to Montreal that we were too big and slow and not fast enough and didn’t have skill,†Neely said. “So, is there a proper balance? Absolutely. Do we want to find that balance? Yes. If you win, people leave the building happy, they change the channel happy. Everybody wants to win. And I can certainly appreciate what (style) our fans grew up with. But we’ve got to change a little bit with the direction of the league, too.â€

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/bruins/2016/02/cam_neely_sold_despite_interest_rate_dip

 

[BNHL]

Like I originally said I love watching fights in hockey. I dont argue at all that its entertaining. But the handwriting is on the wall. It is being phased out. The driverwill be financial. Law suits and inability to get insurance. The pro and con will be settled by the bottom line.

Its only a question of when. But the tide has already turned. Theres no denying that. Now its just a question of at what time does the snorkel go under water?
We are already being weaned.

That's too bad,looks like it's not just the fighting being phased out but some physicality and toughness. How the hell could Scott Stevens play today? I loved the Chris Neil types but his level of toughness is next to go.

 

[Number8]

I think the Bruins are to "blame" for much of the recent trend.

We were the closest thing to the old "Big Bad Bruins" in 2011 that we'll ever see IMO.

We had an amazing mix of talent and brawn -- and there is no denying we bullied the Canucks and as a result broke their spirit. It was AWESOME.

However, only someone in denial can deny that the very next year the League made a concerted effort to neuter the Bruins and were largely successful. One need only look at the fiasco that was the vaunted rematch when Vancouver came to Boston that next season. The officiating in that game was a travesty.

The message was loud and clear -- "we, the League, will not allow that anymore".

Sad, in my view, but I agree with Wally. That ship has sailed.

And I agree with Neely, we need to find the balance between tough play and the faster, more skilled game the League very clearly wants. Are we there? NO. Will we get there again soon? I DON'T KNOW.

Of course if the League wants to go that way, the officiating on the ice needs to be much much much better and that is on them. Can't have it both ways.

 

[Rubber Biscuit]

I think the Bruins are to "blame" for much of the recent trend.

We were the closest thing to the old "Big Bad Bruins" in 2011 that we'll ever see IMO.

We had an amazing mix of talent and brawn -- and there is no denying we bullied the Canucks and as a result broke their spirit. It was AWESOME.

However, only someone in denial can deny that the very next year the League made a concerted effort to neuter the Bruins and were largely successful. One need only look at the fiasco that was the vaunted rematch when Vancouver came to Boston that next season. The officiating in that game was a travesty.

The message was loud and clear -- "we, the League, will not allow that anymore".

Sad, in my view, but I agree with Wally. That ship has sailed.

And I agree with Neely, we need to find the balance between tough play and the faster, more skilled game the League very clearly wants. Are we there? NO. Will we get there again soon? I DON'T KNOW.

Of course if the League wants to go that way, the officiating on the ice needs to be much much much better and that is on them. Can't have it both ways.

Hit the nail on the head. When posters in the GDT complain about the Bruins not sticking up for each other like they used to, many don't realize it's because the league has done their best to not allow that kind of game anymore.

I don't believe they did it to hurt the Bruins, but it's clear that the league mandated a change. Boston was/is under a microscope because they were really the poster boys for that sort of game. It really hurt guys like Chara and especially Lucic.

 

[Fenway]

I think the Bruins are to "blame" for much of the recent trend.

We were the closest thing to the old "Big Bad Bruins" in 2011 that we'll ever see IMO.

We had an amazing mix of talent and brawn -- and there is no denying we bullied the Canucks and as a result broke their spirit. It was AWESOME.

Teams were afraid of the Bruins at home in 2011 - now teams love to play us in Boston.

Historically the Bruins always were brawn at home - but thinking back decades I can not recall a major donnybrook in Montreal - but how many times did we beat the Habs to a pulp in Boston.

We will never see those days again.