will we ever win?

Clarke, fighting, etc.

In this article about the NHL deciding appropriate penalties for shots to the head, Clarke said this:

"I'm not sure making it a long suspension sends a message," Clarke said. "Look what happened two years ago when [Ottawa's Martin] Havlat took a stick to Mark Recchi's face. And now he goes and kicks a player [Boston's Hal Gill] in the groin.

"Did Havlat learn anything from two years ago? I don't think so. Sometimes, the old law of the jungle was the best way to solve these things. Have a player go out and kick the crap out of him."

Clarke of course did the same crap back in the day but he had a retinue of goons to protect him from retribution. But he does have a point. The new NHL is definitely better and way more entertaining but it's unfortunately come at the expense of crushing hits and fighting. Fighting is definitely being phased out, slowly but surely. There has only been one fight in the Flyers 6 games. And if Brashear isn't fighting, why is he even dressed?

Fighting isn't just stupid goonery like critics claim. It is a deterrent to cheap shot artists like Havlat but also serves strategic purposes. Just last night Carolina was sluggish and down 2-0 to Ottawa. Jesse Boulerice fights Brian McGrattan, the Hurricanes finally start playing, the game turns around, and Carolina wins 3-2.

The NHL's lame justification for the cheap, gimmicky shoot-out is "nobody leaves". Nobody leaves during a fight either. Nobody stays in their seat during a fight and it often is the loudest cheer other than a goal. And besides, the Flyers need a justification for keeping Donald Brashear on the roster.