Dark Qiviut

Fighting helps bring the old-school/old-time fans in. But these days, because of concussion awareness, the disappearance of enforcers, and how hockey's much more interesting without the fighting, I'm gonna be honest. Is fighting REALLY necessary anymore? Look at college hockey or Olympic hockey. They're some of the most interesting hockey, and fighting is forbidden. And in the playoffs, players are a lot more careful not to fight lately.

If you have to have fighting to sell tickets, then it's just a cheap thrill and not as strong a product as you think. I love for the NHL to thrive, but you can't pander to old-school fans forever. I'm coming around to banning fighting in the NHL end change its rule: you drop the gloves once, you're ejected (and ejected and suspended for at least one game if you throw a punch).