Up to January 21st, there were 449 fights in the NHL which works out to 0.64 fights per game. This is the fighting rate prior to the lockout in 2004-05. The two season subsequent to the lockout, the fight rates were 0.38 (2005-06) and 0.40 (2006-07) fights per game. It’s hard to say whether the crackdown on obstruction reduced the frustration levels in the league and indirectly the number of fights. A more likely explanation is that the crackdown on obstruction meant teams were either on the powerplay or killing penalties more often. Therefore, enforcer just saw less ice time and few opportunities to fight. Interestingly, preseason games have double the number of fights even though the games don’t count for anything. However marginal players fighting for jobs means more fights too.
There have been 288 players (out of 752 players have played in at least one game so far this season) who have received fighting majors for a total of 875 fighting majors. However, only 159 players have received more than one fighting major. Therefore, 21% of players account for 85% of fights (746). Not surprising, a small group of players are doing the bulk of the fighting. The league leaders are Jared Boll (Columbus) and Riley Cote (Philadelphia) with 15 each. Not surprising neither are exactly household names and somehow I doubt fans buy tickets to see Boll with 8 points this season and Cote with 1 point. Boll is averaging 8:51 in ice time per game and Cote only 4:03. So Cote is spending almost as much time in the penalty box per game as he is on the ice.
I’m not picking on Boll and Cote but somehow I think the league would be better if their spots (as well as others like them) could be taken by players that can actually play hockey.
12 years ago
