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Sidney Crosby Defends Prospect Who Broke Hand While Fighting

By Catherine Silverman

Nov 14, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby (87) carries the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby (87) carries the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sidney Crosby and Paul Bissonnette aren’t the only skaters who understand why Connor McDavid dropped the gloves

The 2014-2015 NHL season has seemed to have a disproportionate amount of focus directed on one thing — fighting in hockey.

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It’s one of the most polarizing issues in professional sports. There isn’t a whole lot of in between: people either stand behind NHL on NBC’s Mike Milbury (who thinks that fighting needs to go, and now) or adamantly insist that fighting is an integral part of the game.

This controversy came to head last week, when projected first overall 2015 draft pick Connor McDavid ended his nearly 3-points-per-game streak by breaking his hand during a fight; a missed punch thrown by the forward accidentally hit the glass, rendering McDavid unable to play for 5-6 weeks.

Many have spoken out against the on-ice leader’s decision to drop the gloves during a game. They say that his skills should speak for themselves, and part of playing a professional sport (or doing anything at a paid level, for that matter) involves turning the other cheek to the prodigal mosquito buzz in your ear — or, in McDavid’s case, the constant checking from a player on the opposing team.

A number of NHL’ers have come to the 17-year-old superstar’s defense, though.

Sidney Crosby, who went first overall at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, said he ‘understands’ what McDavid did. He explained that even when it’s ‘not your role’ to drop the gloves, there’s something to be said for sticking up for yourself when you’re being specifically targeted out on the ice.

Also in agreement with Crosby was former Arizona Coyotes enforcer Paul Bissonnette, who took to Twitter to explain his position on the matter — and have a few choice words with the media for attempting to make decisions for players without any professional NHL experience.

It’s hard to argue that the league is trying to move away from anything that could prevent head injuries or permanent damage to players. Still, it’s hard to imagine the game without the physical element so many are used to — and it’s hard to picture players going without a swing or two during particularly gritty matchups.

It’s important to note, of course, that there seems to be little chance of the broken hand affecting McDavid’s standings in the draft prospect rankings.

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