10 for fighting?......GET LOST!

This is one of the most bush league things I have heard come out of the NHL commissioner’s office since they implemented all these new hooking and holding rules that have turned the NHL into a pretty boy league. The NHL is making an effort to add an additional 5 minutes to the penalty for fighting. Currently the penalty for fighting in the NHL is 5 minutes; the additional 5 will result in a fight costing a player 10 minutes of the game. In essence you lose a player for ten minutes of a game because he went out defended his team, he gave his team the spark they needed to turn a losing effort around perhaps. Let’s face it, that is complete bush, and it will never happen. People go to a hockey game expecting physical play, and yes, a fight or two. Fighting has been a part of hockey for as long as hockey has been played and it will continue to be that way well into the future. Fighting polices the league; it assures a player will not do anything stupid because if he does he will feel the wrath of the toughest guy on the opposing team. Ask any knowledgeable hockey player and they will tell you that fighting is not only good for the game and attracting fans, but it is also necessary for the safety of all on the ice. A player cannot go around hacking and hooking others, because he runs the risk of getting into a fight and being physically punished for any dirty or irresponsible use of his stick. Do not try and turn North American hockey into European hockey, WE DON’T WANT THAT. Don't get me wrong, dangles and finesse play are fun to watch, but physical play is what makes North American Hockey the best hockey in the world. We like our fighting, our enforcers, and our tough guys who police the ice more so than the referees do. If fighting majors were to be increased to 10 minutes I GUARANTEE you will see less fights in NHL games, and thus fewer fans will watch. Some won’t watch because they liked more fighting, but even more won’t watch because the quality of the hockey being played will be terrible. With less fighting you will see more injuries to your key players, because players on opposing teams will take more liberty when they go into the corner with these superstars. Due to the fact that players run less of a risk of catching a beating, hazardous stick work and dirty checking will run rampant in the NHL. I SAY REDUCE THE PENALTY TIME FOR FIGHTING, DON’T INCREASE IT!