Do you plan to watch more, less or the same amount of Canucks hockey this season?

[donlever]

Great post.

Also agreed....

[Meds]

Who is the MJN cat? His posts are top shelf.

I’d like to add to his last by saying that with the departure of physical risk has come the rise of the cheap shot artist (Marchand’s and Cooke’s) and the sleaze-bag pest (Tkachuk’s and Avery’s).

I full agree that the dirty shit that risked a player’s career (and long term quality of life) needed to be removed, but I don’t think the fighting had to go. Players policing players was effective.

There’s a balance to be struck, but our society is a fucking political pendulum and the league is no different.

[Cornuck]

It wasn't just skill; there was courage needed.

The move away from that kind of hockey was warranted. Knowing what we know about concussions and the long-term consequences of repeated head trauma, I don't think there's any reasonable argument for going back to the way things were.

...The danger, hatred, intimidation and possibility that a game might genuinely get out of hand created tension that simply isn't there to the same degree anymore.

For most of us, the game we grew up is gone. For the player's longevity, that's a good thing. For us old-time fans, it's (still) taking some getting used to.

To me, it's a fine line between protecting the stars who work their magic and allowing a certain level of violence that made the game so unique.

The Broad Street Bullies were a little over the top - but they also had some amazing skilled players. The Big Bad Bruins - same thing. I don't think we'll ever see the combination of toughness and skill that Orr brought every night. (just one example).

I can understand older fans tuning out the game when there's players getting 10 million a year without proving much - and as more money gets involved, there's less incentive around the league to kill the golden goose - even if he's on the other team.

I was never a fan of the 'staged' fights, but I love to see a player legitimately stand up for a teammate, and that's another part that's disappearing.