Instigator Rule Opinion Swaying Among NHLers

Matt Kassian and Shawn Thornton square off. Cal Sport Media via AP Images

Instigator Rule Opinion Swaying Among NHLers

Feb 21, 2012 1:40 AM David M Singer

The NHLPA and CBC conducted a player poll with a variety of questions ranging from fastest shot (in case anyone wants to disagree with a machine) to which player would you start a franchise with. Also asked: Should the instigator rule be abolished?

A slight majority of players still favor the rule: 53% of players polled said no. However, this is down from 66% of a no vote last season.

Each season 98% of players said fighting should not be completely banished, the phrasing taken directly from the question.

America sees some bouts

Sunday was Hockey Day in America, so says the NHL & NBC Sports, and fans witnessed a few good scraps.

In one of the early games, Ryane Clowe out-matched a very willing Justin Abdelkader in a spirited bout. This was the 13th fighting major of the season for the Detroit Red Wings, matching their 2010-11 total. Seven of those fights have come within the past month.

Shawn Thornton took on the much larger Matt Kassian. At first the fight looked like it was going to be all Kassian, but Thornton was able to hang on, get position and the two started going back and forth. It was a long one, testing Kassian's stamina, Thornton's being well-documented.

Later in Florida, Krys Barch went with George Parros. Barch was able to land a few shots as the two spun around over and over.

Videos added

I should be able to add the Clowe-Abdelkader fight in the next day or two.

Troy Brouwer vs Justin Faulk Feb 20, 2012
Matt Hendricks vs Derek Joslin Feb 20, 2012
Zack Smith vs Matt Martin Feb 20, 2012
Cody McLeod vs Chris Thorburn Feb 19, 2012
George Parros vs Krys Barch Feb 19, 2012
Shawn Thornton vs Matt Kassian Feb 19, 2012
Ryan Reaves vs John Scott Feb 19, 2012
Zack Smith vs Tyson Strachan Feb 15, 2012
Marty McSorley vs Eric Lindros Nov 21, 1995
Sean O'Donnell vs Shawn Antoski Nov 21, 1995
John Scott vs Derek Dorsett Feb 18, 2012
Jimmy Hayes vs Derek MacKenzie Feb 18, 2012
George Parros vs Eric Boulton Feb 17, 2012

Comments

Instigator rule or not. They just CANNOT remove fighting from hockey. I think it's an important part of the game.
Posted by Ben Kevan on 2012-02-21 12:14:42 Pure logic says that the instigator rule is a bunch of crap. For example:

Let's say that Joe Blow whacks me upside the head with his stick. I drop my gloves and go after him, so THEN he drops his gloves, and we fight. So...

Who started ("instigated") the fight? Did I start it because I dropped my gloves first? Or did Joe Blow start it because he whacked me upside the head in the first place?
Posted by Chris Bullock on 2012-02-21 08:32:31 I can understand the instigator rule not wanting to be abolished, but it should be modified so that if a player takes a penalty, that player can be retaliated at against without fear of the instigator.
Posted by Adam Moreira on 2012-02-21 02:48:48

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