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Does former NHL bruiser Mike Milbury want the league to ban fighting?

By Catherine Silverman

Jan 26, 2014; New York City, NY, USA; NHL former player Mike Milbury skates with youngsters on a miniature rink before the Stadium Series hockey game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2014; New York City, NY, USA; NHL former player Mike Milbury skates with youngsters on a miniature rink before the Stadium Series hockey game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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In a recent video, NBC commentator and former NHL player Mike Milbury spoke out against the use of fighters in the league, saying that they held no real value and detracted from the overall game.

The league had already started to trend away from the use of enforcers; some of the league’s most well-known fourth line tough guys walked away from the off-season with no contracts. Paul Bissonnette, who some consider a fan favorite, might be the first player to come to mind in this aspect.

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For every player who didn’t receive a contract, though, it seems that two more men known for their physical statures found homes this summer. John Scott, who is as tall as Zdeno Chara in skates and five times as brutal, was brought from Buffalo to San Jose with a brand-new contract. Philadelphia Flyers enforcer Zac Rinaldo was given a three-year contract extension, and the Chicago Blackhawks welcomed former Chicago plug Dan Carcillo back with seemingly open arms.

While it makes sense that the league is trending away from the kind of violence that causes career-ending injuries, though, not everyone is a fan of taking the fighting out of the game. I, for one, live for the times when my favorite players drop the gloves.

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