Why is fighting even allowed in NHL?

This is a questioned I've always wanted to ask--why is fighting(physical) even allowed in NHL games. In many sports fighting is seen as unsportman like and is strictly prohibited and yet in NHL games the refs most of the time just stand there and allow it to happen. What's beyond my comprehension is the fact that they allow it to happen and afterwards assess the players involved misconduct penalty. IF it shouldn't happen then it shouldn't happen in the first place and the refs should keep away those who are about to start a fight like they do in the NBA and other sports.

thats like asking why dunking is a part of the NBA

they've got padding and most of the punches don't land, so yeh....
i just wanna see, one day a guy take off his gloves and helmet to fight (as they normally do)
and hte other guy just whack him with the hockey stick...
now that'll be awesome

Everybody knows violence is the only way to solve problems.

yea?..thats why the nhl is going bankrupt. They need a new GM that will set some order and bring them to new heights like what stern did with the nba.

I agree.....but i think fighting is a little gag to tie things up (keep it going)....fights happen too often in the NHL, mostly becuz of stupid stuff like getting tripped of something...Players get tripped in other sports also and you dont see them going at it every game, which might be nice to see , j/k....Yet the people love it, and i also like to see a little blood every now and then

Well, It's an emotional sport, without fighting there would likely be a lot more injuries. Because if somone takes a cheap shot at you, and you can't drop the gloves it would make you more likely to injure the other player by checking him, slashing, from behind, you name it.

Fighting is a good way to solve an issue without someone getting hurt.

i was wondering about that too...

why do they allow them to fight when they'll just slap them with penalties and stuff...

I was wondering...why he revived a thread that was dead like a year ago??

No NHL now. Canadians must be pissed (except for Colin)

The NHL sucks...
(Except the Panthers...)

errr...didn't notice that myself...it's all verk's fault

The NHL sucks...
(Except the Panthers...)

Panthers in the NHL

anyhow......I think its bad.....I mean theirs enuff violence goin on in America.....do u need Pro-Athletes encouraging it aswell?

The NHL sucks...
(Except the Panthers...)

Panthers in the NHL

anyhow......I think its bad.....I mean theirs enuff violence goin on in America.....do u need Pro-Athletes encouraging it aswell?

isn't football a violent sport too? hell, what bout boxing? kickboxing? ultimate fighting champion? wrestling?

p.s. panthers do suck. loads. i loved that bure-jovanovski trade.

The NHL sucks...
(Except the Panthers...)

Panthers in the NHL

anyhow......I think its bad.....I mean theirs enuff violence goin on in America.....do u need Pro-Athletes encouraging it aswell?

isn't football a violent sport too? hell, what bout boxing? kickboxing? ultimate fighting champion? wrestling?

p.s. panthers do suck. loads. i loved that bure-jovanovski trade.

u see Wrestling isnt a sport.....its entertainment......unless your talkin abt the real wrestling.

And those sports are primarily made for the use of fists........I dont think Hockey is supposed to be two sports in one now....its primary is supposed to be using a stick to guide, pass n shoot the puck.....why have a fist-fight along with it........

entertainment wrestling, real wrestling, it doesn't matter. the public still copies their moves. i think beating the sh*t out of someone with a chair is more violent than seeing someone go toe-to-toe on the ice against an opponent.

hockey's one of the fastest sports on earth, and when hitting is allowed (also in football, rugby, etc.) emotions run high. as Verk said, it's allowed so that no one can get seriously hurt in some other way. there are strict rules that are applied to fighting in the nhl that prevent them from getting hurt (eg. no kicking, no headbutting, no fighting when the other person's down, etc.)

They probably hope it gets TV ratings and attendences up.

They probably hope it gets TV ratings and attendences up.

hasn't really helped them much.....

if fighting drives up ratings, i don't see how a quebec pro league that features bruisers like donald brashear as marquee players isn't a top four sport.

think beating the sh*t out of someone with a chair is more violent than seeing someone go toe-to-toe on the ice against an opponent

very well describe there.
and sometimes we see more blodd in monday night raw than the whole season of Hockey

man the nhl was built on fighting, cant ban it now. the old bruins used to beat the hell outa everyone just for fun, man are those old tapes fun to watch. speaking of fighting, if you wanna see a funny ass movie about hockey fighting go rent slap shot. dont get slap shot 2, make sure its the first.

if you wanna see a funny ass movie about hockey fighting go rent slap shot. dont get slap shot 2, make sure its the first.

who was the star of that film?

man the nhl was built on fighting, cant ban it now. the old bruins used to beat the hell outa everyone just for fun, man are those old tapes fun to watch. speaking of fighting, if you wanna see a funny ass movie about hockey fighting go rent slap shot. dont get slap shot 2, make sure its the first.

the nhl was not built on fighting. they just happen. as time goes on and players get bigger/stronger, there'll be more fights, hits, bruises, cuts, blood. the average nhl player in 1960 was 5'10" 165 lbs. today it's 6'2" 200 lbs.

the bruising rangers and flyers of the 70s, 80s were the exceptions.

wayne gretzky didn't become the best hockey player in the world for his fighting skills.

slapshot starred paul newman while slapshot 2 starred one of the baldwin brothers.

Daniel Baldwin I beleive. I enyoyed his acting in slap shot two. He reflected a hockey player quite well.

I have the gretzky fight on tape. I laugh every time I see it...

thanks for reviving my post
i emailed this question to the NHL (b4 lockout) but never got reply from them...
looks like this question will remain a myth for a while...

they won't read it. those losers