>>Hockey is a great game when the players are allowed to showcase their skills. If they've modified the rules to cut down on the fighting, cut down on the clutch and grab, cut down the extra unnecessary hitting, etc. I'd certainly start watching again.
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>They have done away with all this except the fighting. However, they are really enforcing 3rd player into the fight penalties as well as instigator penalties. Also, if you fight in the last 5 minutes of regulation or OT, it is automatic suspension for the next game in addition to the usual penalties. So now you do not have the gratuitious fighting at the end once one team has accepted defeat.

Fighting was always a part of hockey. But since the Broad Street Bullies it became THE thing in hockey. I honestly think the NHL felt it had a better chance to sell hockey in the States that way.
Fighting as in one-on-one will always happen in hockey, and I have no real problem with that because cheap-shots are done and retaliation will happen. To me it's human nature. I have yet to seriously watch a game this season, but obviously I should do that soon!