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pastarocket · 04-21-2012, 09:37 AM

Here's a thought. Back in the day, it was rare to see star players like Gretzky receive nasty hits, blindside hits to the head etc. Why?

One of the reasons is because the NHL did not have the instigator rule.
What if the league changed the penalties for the instigator rule or removed the rule?

If any player were to make an illegal hit on other player, star player or 4th line guy, you would have the enforcers, the goons, stand up for their team mate and fight the player.

Bottom line: Other players would make players who make these illegal hits accountable for their actions.

You may see less of these players making illegal hits on other players because you would know that the other team's enforcer, the goon, would punish you for the hit.

Enforcers like Dave Semenko or Marty McSorley acted as a big deterrent to players who may have wanted to make a big hit to Gretzky because they knew those guys would fight the opposing player.

I really want to see the NHL do something meaningful to ensure player safety. It's horrible to see any player, whether a star player, or the 4th line plumber, get seriously hurt by an illegal hit.

Here is Rule 46 about the instigator rule for a player starting a fight:

Official Rules - Rule 46: Fighting - NHL.com - Rules

This is from the NHL rulebook: A player who is deemed to be both the instigator and aggressor of an altercation shall be assessed an instigating minor penalty, a major penalty for fighting, a ten-minute misconduct (instigator) and a game misconduct penalty (aggressor).

Article on support for removing the instigator rule: Health Petition: The National Hockey League: Remove the instigator rule | Change.org

04-21-2012, 09:37 AM	#27469
pastarocket Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Vancouver Posts: 10,692 Thanked 4,484 Times in 2,232 Posts Failed 699 Times in 223 Posts Member's Picture Albums	Here's a thought. Back in the day, it was rare to see star players like Gretzky receive nasty hits, blindside hits to the head etc. Why? One of the reasons is because the NHL did not have the instigator rule. What if the league changed the penalties for the instigator rule or removed the rule? If any player were to make an illegal hit on other player, star player or 4th line guy, you would have the enforcers, the goons, stand up for their team mate and fight the player. Bottom line: Other players would make players who make these illegal hits accountable for their actions. You may see less of these players making illegal hits on other players because you would know that the other team's enforcer, the goon, would punish you for the hit. Enforcers like Dave Semenko or Marty McSorley acted as a big deterrent to players who may have wanted to make a big hit to Gretzky because they knew those guys would fight the opposing player. I really want to see the NHL do something meaningful to ensure player safety. It's horrible to see any player, whether a star player, or the 4th line plumber, get seriously hurt by an illegal hit. Here is Rule 46 about the instigator rule for a player starting a fight: Official Rules - Rule 46: Fighting - NHL.com - Rules This is from the NHL rulebook: A player who is deemed to be both the instigator and aggressor of an altercation shall be assessed an instigating minor penalty, a major penalty for fighting, a ten-minute misconduct (instigator) and a game misconduct penalty (aggressor). Article on support for removing the instigator rule: Health Petition: The National Hockey League: Remove the instigator rule \| Change.org __________________ Go Canucks go!