Without fighting, there'd be a lot more cheap shots. I'd be willing to bet that cheap shots injure players a lot more frequently than fights. It's just magnified when players get injured in fights because of all the trolls who think fighting is evil and should be banned. The instigator/agitator rules have really cut down on the overly aggressive fighting.
Agreed. They will re-work the rule for agitator this offseason too. Much more severe penalty for engaging an unwilling opponent. I'm guessing something like a separate major (so double major if the opponent is unwilling) so that the other team gets a 5 min. power play, along with a multi-game suspension.
The Holtby incident might get something added about goalies specifically like no one is to enter the opponent's crease, so if someone goes INTO his crease to get him, it's a major suspension. If the goalie comes out to meet the guy, then they are willingly joining the fight.
If not something, there is nothing to stop a thug from fighting a goalie that is putting up a shutout, and taking him out of the game, or at least shaking him up. Can you imagine how the playoffs the last few years against the NYR and Lundquist could have been?
Yeah, the agitator rule needs to be re-written. I think that they should just add something that says that any game misconduct is automatically up for supplemental discipline.