Yes, it's always been deemed a nod of respect but for me it's an outdated notion, especially given the number of enforcers that we've seen with troubles after their careers have ended and several tragic deaths too. If there was more awareness of long term brain injury and the impact of concussions back then, them I’m pretty sure stuff like that would have been curtailed long before they brought in the additional penalties for removing the lids. We've all seen the destructive power of a knockout punch with players that have worn helmets too, ask Tyson Marsh. Despite that, wearing them absolutely reduces the chance of landing a decent punch to the head. Not so good for the hands admittedly.
Apologies to drag back of topic but I think it’s an important distinction to separate the fighting topic and what happened to those enforcers. They were doing a job that was set up to destroy their mental health not just from fighting but all the surrounding elements of mentally preparing yourself night in night out. It was a job that took them to the height of fear, though the release of combat and back down again. The hormonal bombardment on the body would be huge and if mentally there was any chink in the armour that job would find it out. To say those guys ended up suicidal from one too many shots to the head would be a mis representation I believe.
I advocate fighting in hockey. I’ve done it a couple of times myself. But that’s fights within the context of a game that happen spontaneously to settle an issue and keep players honest. Or more simply frustration boiling over. Happy for any player to keep there lid on or off but there is a certain beauty that people can still be accountable for their actions in the most natural of ways as deep down we’re still a very primal species. It’s why I hate the instigator rule. It opened the door to the rats.
Lastly touching on the Hendo fight with Lordo I never agreed with Hendo for what he did as he brought an off ice issue onto the ice and used the spirit of the game for his own gratification which I thought went against the ‘code’ and was a bit of a travesty.
Apologies again but being a hockey guy of too many years the rhetoric behind fighting in hockey is one that really grabs my attention.
Back to Joey H. Hope he comes back. One of my favourite all time Devils and has a lot of tools Devils currently could do with.