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Dziurzynski knocked out by Fraser McLaren


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Losing more respect for the Laffs...

Like the panel said, they're doing this game after game as a tactic - staging fights to start the game - and it cheapens hockey imo - the fact that it's a pattern indicates that there's nothing situational about it - the zebras should be doing their job and deterring this kind of staging.

I could see the Laffs pulling this $#!t out for opponents like the Bruins as an in-kind response to what they've been dishing, but night after night in the post-enforcer NHL is just cheap and it's trending the wrong way. The NHL has enough problems - if former enforcers speaking out wasn't enough, then clearly this league has it's head up it's a$$.

I'm not going to claim that MClaren is a "goon", but there are only a few Leafs who face a weaker quality of competition, there are only a few Leafs with a worse relative corsi, there are no regulars who get a higher percentage of offensive zone starts, and he's certainly not lighting up the scoreboard...

On a related note:

The first memorable event in the last game in Calgary - McGrattan takes a late, high run at Henrik - and Sutherland spectates with his whistle in his pocket. Standard set from the get-go. Result - Sestito must then fight McGrattan - that's the honourable NHL tradition - but really, isn't sending Sestito out to take a run at Baertschi or Cammalleri the more accurate reciprocation? Therein lies a large part of the problem imo - NHL officials have no concept of consistency and are leaving the policing to players in a post enforcer NHL - and this isn't that age of enforcers when enforcer fought enforcer - the enforcer of days gone by wasn't a cheap shot artist who took liberties attempting to injure marquis players. The last thing the NHL needs is for teams to be escalating the runs and the cheap shots enabled by today's version of the "enforcer" - because particular teams decide to employ this tactic, which in the end is all about empowering their team to cross the line moreso than preventing the opposition from crossing the line...that's where the modern NHL imo lacks boundaries - and it's up to the zebras to take control of games.

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Losing more respect for the Laffs...

Like the panel said, they're doing this game after game as a tactic - staging fights to start the game - and it cheapens hockey imo - the fact that it's a pattern indicates that there's nothing situational about it - the zebras should be doing their job and deterring this kind of staging.

I could see the Laffs pulling this $#!t out for opponents like the Bruins as an in-kind response to what they've been dishing, but night after night in the post-enforcer NHL is just cheap and it's trending the wrong way. The NHL has enough problems - if former enforcers speaking out wasn't enough, then clearly this league has it's head up it's a$$.

On a related note:

The first memorable event in the last game in Calgary - McGrattan takes a late, high run at Henrik - and Sutherland spectates with his whistle in his pocket. Standard set from the get-go. Result - Sestito must then fight McGrattan - that's the honourable NHL tradition - but really, isn't sending Sestito out to take a run at Baertschi or Cammalleri the more accurate reciprocation? Therein lies a large part of the problem imo - NHL officials have no concept of consistency and are leaving the policing to players in a post enforcer NHL - and this isn't that age of enforcers when enforcer fought enforcer - the enforcer of days gone by wasn't a cheap shot artist who took liberties attempting to injure marquis players. The last thing the NHL needs is for teams to be escalating the runs and the cheap shots enabled by today's version of the "enforcer" - because particular teams decide to employ this tactic, which in the end is all about empowering their team to cross the line moreso than preventing the opposition from crossing the line...that's where the modern NHL imo lacks boundaries - and it's up to the zebras to take control of games.

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Are you kidding?

Name 5 enforcers.

I watched hockey in the 70s and 80s - I know the difference.

There were as many on the 1980s Calgary Flames as there are in the entire Western Conference today.

Chris Neil and Sean Thornton types are not enforcers - they are guys who can skate, hit, score and play the game - they could make the NHL even if it were a post-fighting league. The Bruins are arguably the toughest team in the NHL - they don't have a single enforcer on their roster. Their "tough guys" can play the game.

Sean Thornton lead the Bs in penalty minutes their Cup season - with 122 pm - the 1985/6 Flames had 8 guys with more than that.

There are very few guys in today's NHL who would qualify - John Scott, Colton Orr...?

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