I Like Fighting, But I Hate Goons

BOULDER, Colorado -- Toronto Star columnist Damien Cox recently had an article on ESPN.com about Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby.

I generally agree with his assessment of Crosby and skill players in the NHL more generally - this conventional wisdom that every skilled superstar needs a goon to back them up is ridiculous. Toughness - and that includes fighting - is an essential part of the game, but this should be a team concept, not just for a fourth line of bubble players who made their way up through the minors by knocking people's teeth out. There are few things more pointless than two goons duking it out for no reason; that being said, there is nothing more exciting than seeing two stars punch each other's lights out.

I am also tired of talk about the halcyon days of the NHL of the past. We are always contorting our understandings of the past to fit our perfect vision. The Original Six is a farce, a 25-year blip in the history of the National Hockey League. Players were no more respectful of each other or of the game 30 years ago; they just got paid less and had fewer rights, so it's easier to think of them as noble lunch-pailers just doing an honest day's work.

This is not to say the league is without tradition. The NHL is in some of the poorest sorts in its history, and the commissioner is a laughing stock. Clearly, looking back to some tradition could only help. But if you truly understand and respect the game, you can make sound judgments about which changes are good and which are not; the healthy debate that will ensue will only help hockey improve.

So, don't be swayed by dumb stories about how Wayne Gretzky never got hit because of Dave Semenko and Marty McSorley. And make sure that the guys on your favorite team that punch the tar out of people can also skate and pass and shoot, like this guy and this guy, not like this guy.

If you enjoy fights as much as I do, check out this website.

UPDATE

For some terrible resources on fighting, go to this website. Not only does their "ranking" system penalize players for scoring, but they rank Peter Worrell as the most effective fighter ever. If you know who this is, you can understand my horror. Also, under their listing for Mike Peluso, native of Hibbing, Minnesota and Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils in 1995, they have a picture of minor-league journeyman Mike Peluso of Bismark, North Dakota; in other words, not the famous goon Mike Peluso.

Bang up job, fellas.

And I realize that all the Russian on my page is screwed up - it happened during the switch over to a Google blogger account. I'll fix it soon.