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NHL Sees Rise in Fighting Again: What Does This Mean?

By Richard Jelinek

UNIONDALE, NY - CIRCA 1979: Behn Wilson #3 of the Philadelphia Flyers collides with Clark Gillies #9 of the New York Islanders during an NHL Hockey game circa 1979 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Wilson's playing career went from 1978-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - CIRCA 1979: Behn Wilson #3 of the Philadelphia Flyers collides with Clark Gillies #9 of the New York Islanders during an NHL Hockey game circa 1979 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Wilson's playing career went from 1978-88. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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The NHL has always been a physical game to the point a fight breaking out was a regular thing. During the early days of hockey until early 2000, a fight was as common as a face-off.

Then slowly fighting started to decline. Tough guys were asked to play a role other than just fight, meaning every player who was dressed had to contribute in other ways than dropping the gloves.

The fighting aspect of hockey has dwindled down to basically nothing. The fight fans had nothing to look forward and the physical play was non-existent to the point the game was reminiscent of a pick-up game in the winter months.

Is fighting completely gone? Not completely and it could be said that fighting has somewhat come back.

Over the past 2 seasons, it looks as if the fighting numbers have gone up and the physical play is back. The game is getting that aggression back and other players are taking notice.

This, however, is not the same physical and fighting time of Bob Probert and Tie Domi. This is more of a middleweight taking center stage deal, with the odd heavyweight bout taking place.

The Arizona Coyotes lead the league in fighting majors with 10 in 15 games this season. Coyote forward Liam O’Brien leads the league with 4 fighting majors and 36 penalty minutes in 9 games.

Players want fighting in the game as a way to protect themselves. This comes after the Director of Player Safety, George Parros, has neglected unsafe hits and injuries taking place after dangerous contact.

The players have always protected themselves in some way or fashion. The players, not just the NHL, were put on notice in lower leagues about fighting.

The AHL and ECHL put in a 10 fight minimum rule, and anything after would be a suspension. This action took down fighting totals in the minors.

During the 2018-19 NHL season, there were 1,271 games played with 227 fights, with an average of about 1 fight per 6 games. This year the Coyotes have 10 fights in 15 games.

The 2019-20 NHL season postseason there were 184 games with 11 fights, 2018-19 playoffs 174 games with 3 fights, and 168 games with 8 fights during the 2017-18 season. The 2020-21 NHL season there were 56 games with 369 fights.

Fighting in hockey is good for a couple of reasons. This holds the players themselves accountable, the roughing and tough stuff actually sells more tickets.

Fighting in hockey has been around since the evolution of hockey. Hockey fights will never truly be eliminated from the game and, in recent years, looks like it is slowly coming back.

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