I used to enjoy the fights, but there are too many stories of lives ruined by it. I just don’t find punches to the head entertaining any more, and am more likely to feel disgusted by it. There are enough injuries as it is, and I don’t like seeing the guys risk serious injury for needless tough-guy b.s. At least fights are at a historic low in the NHL and the enforcer era seems to be mostly a thing of the past. Like I said earlier, I can at least understand a few occasional punches out of frustration, and a rough game can be entertaining, but I can do without the all-out angry brawls. And the staged fights where they give each other a pat afterwards for having put on a good show to appease the “fight, fight, fight” crowd – I find that especially lame. I’d rather be entertained by the skilled aspects of the game these days.JennyB wrote: ↑28 May 2021, 11:10amI mean, I'm not one of those people in the crowd who yell "fight fight fight," but it's fun when it happens.
The Tragic Post-Hockey Life of an NHL ‘Enforcer’
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/arch ... ry/587818/
“Ewen and Probert’s destinies intertwined after they first met on the ice. Probert was just a year older than Ewen, and he had a similarly grueling decade-plus career. After the two men retired from hockey—in 1998 and 2002, respectively—both started to forget things. They angered quickly. Each would be dead before his 50th birthday.”
“Todd’s behavior only became more erratic. During one episode, he choked Kelli and the police had to intervene. In time, depression and reclusiveness replaced Todd’s anger. He routinely became lost and disoriented in the streets around his own home.”
At least ^this^ kind of thing seems to have largely faded into the past, and I'm happy to see the enforcer role replaced by 4th liners with more hockey skill.