The NHL Enforcer: An Endangered Species

The role of enforcer is incredibly unique to the sport of hockey. In no other team sport is there a specified “goon” whose main job description encompasses doing whatever it takes to defend his teammates. This can range from dropping the gloves and going for blow for blow with an opposing teams enforcer or simply hitting anyone and everyone in sight. It certainly is a special title to hold, but lately fewer and fewer NHL teams are choosing to keep one of these brutes on their roster and instead leaning more toward two-way forwards who can fill in on the fourth line and actually contribute something more than penalty minutes.

The role seems to be diminishing throughout the league and as a fan it is a little upsetting. While I understand the need of depth and being able to consistently roll four competitive lines, enforcers are too much a part of the game watch to disappear.

Fighting is controversial aspect of the NHL and will continue to be. For some fans fighting is a major reason they love the sport. They would argue that it is necessary to protect skilled players, it is tradition and simply part of the game, and of course it is pretty entertaining to watch. Opposing fans would argue that it is not necessary as other team sports do just fine without it and that it is dangerous and hazardous to player safety.

Recently league officials have made it clear that they are concerned about the safety of the players in these fights, specifically addressing when the players fall to the ice when taken down. The latest rule change acknowledges this fear as it does not allow players to remove their helmets before a fight. If they do they will receive an extra two minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on top of the five minute major for fighting for a total of seven minutes in the box.

This rule makes sense as it reduces the chance of a player injuring his head on a fall, but there is a major loophole that was exposed during the preseason during a fight between New Jersey Devil Krys Barch and New York Islander Brett Gallant. The two tough guys dropped the gloves, came together, and then each of them purposely knocked off the others helmet before landing haymakers to each other’s jaws.

Lastly, it is really ironic that the new video game NHL14 has a new mode called enforcer engine and has really amped up the fights and hitting. It seems to be a bit odd that the league seems to be doing everything they can to combat fighting while the game seems to be promoting it.

The diminishing number of enforcers league-wide in the NHL sparks striking similarities to many other sports right now in that an element of toughness is being taken away. Sports in a way are slowly but surely becoming soft. For example, there are way too many touch fouls in the NBA. It is nearly impossible not to commit a foul when an opposing player is driving the lane.

It is also increasingly challenging to get a big hit on a quarterback or wide receiver in the NFL without getting flagged, fined, or both. In the NFL trash talking is even an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty now called ‘verbal taunting’. It is absurd that a player can’t talk a little trash without getting penalized 15 yards. Big hits, fights, and tough play in the low post are what makes football, hockey, and basketball so exciting, yet it seems as though they are all diminishing because of rule changes and the way referees are currently calling all the games.