What's dumber in fighting?

[SnowblindNYR]

What's dumber? Fighting after a clean hit or staged fighting? I'd go with staged fighting because at least fighting after a clean hit is spur of the moment protecting a teammate. To me staged fighting is a complete sideshow there to justify guys' existence in a league that shouldn't be there. It has nothing to do with hockey. It's like going to watch a play and in the middle of it they do their taxes.

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[Moose Head]

I agree with the OP

 

[Kegs]

Violent hits need to be answered for when challenged

 

[Devilsfan2326]

Fight after a clean hit is perfectly fine and preferred if it was a big clean hit. Really doesn't matter if it was dirty or not, and it's not like they can tell as easily as we can from our living rooms, either. Guys who like to throw big hits need a deterrent, or they're just going to win the game for their team. Why let them get away with hits that could turn the tide of the match? Players should be encouraged to police the ice. It's what anyone would want from their teammates.

 

[Prairie Habs]

Players don't have instant replay and might not even get a good look at the hit in live action. If you see one of your guys down on the ice in pain I don't think it's crazy to want to stand up for them.

I agree that fights after a clean hit in principle are dumb, but they're very understandable.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Why not both?

 

[Hisch13r]

Easily staged fighting. Should be a misconduct and auto suspension.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Why not both?

I purposely didn't include a both option because I want to know what people think is dumber, both is a crutch.

 

[CanadienShark]

Staged is dumb. Fighting after a clean hit is at least (sort of) justifiable and understandable. Not every player clearly sees each hit and can process it in real time. They're coming to defend a teammate with emotions running high.

 

[BB79]

Staged fighting is right up there with diving/acting like you got shot out of a canon trying to sell a penalty to the ref

 

[bov]

Many hits are clean but can still be damaging, or the instigating player doesn't fully see it happen, plus it can swing the momentum of a game in an instant. So I don't blame someone for issuing a challenge, since the hitter can almost always decline the invitation and/or draw a penalty. The notion that guys "have to fight" after a clean hit is pretty much BS.

My fighting pet peeves are ill-timed bouts off an o-zone draw when your team gets possession and needs a goal but the guy squares off instead. At least wait to see if your team wins the draw and can generate a chance.

Also not a big fan of guys skating to center ice just for show when they square off inside the blueline.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Interesting that none of the neither is dumb people have commented.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Fighting after a clean hit is dumb, but at least you can make the case that

1) Sometimes it’s more about pushing back than about legality

2) You often can’t tell whether a hit was clean, just that your teammate is hurting

Staged fighting was totally pointless. A scourge on the game that was a big part of why fighting has mostly been removed. Thanks for nothing with that crap.