Fw: Fighting Analysis

King to: Mike Murphy

History:

0212512009 04: 15 PM

This message has been replied to.

Gary IMeagherfTOR/NHL
0212512009 01 :57 PM

To "Colin Campbell"
cc Kris King, Damian Echevarrieta/NYC/NHL@NHL
Subject Fighting Analysis

Colie,
Here is a quick overview of the some of the analysis that is being done on the fighting
issue for the GM's meeting. All of the issues summarized below will be examined in
greater detail (with video examples for each area, including some historical video with
examples of how fighting has changed). In addition to the topics listed below, we will
also provide some analysis of the cause and effect of rules changes pertaining to
fighting over the past 30 years (including a close look at the instigator); how fighting has
evolved from era to era and how fighting is marketed (ie. how it is depicted on
broadcasts; how it is covered in-arena and how the media cover the issue). Let me
know if there is additional information you might need for tomorrow. Thanks
FIGHTING ANALYSIS
1. Why fighting is under the microscope?
Don Sanderson's death;
AHL's Garrett Klotz suffered' a seiZL:ire i(i-January: as~t,tie result of a fight;
Fighting in the NHL this seasbR is up b~ 1~~0T~~~er~07-08;
New rules adopted recently by d~e[opmem~tal !(agues (OHL - helmets; QMJHL brawling).
.....__

2. Where fighting is at this year from an historical perspective?

While fighting is up by 17% from a year ago, it is down by 6% from the season prior
to the lockout and down dramatically (41 %) as compared to the most fight-filled
season in League history (1987-88).
There has been a 36% drop in the percentage of players that fight in the game in
the 2000's as compared to the 1980's despite 40% more players and 46% more
games on average.

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There has been a 68% drop in the number of players that have 20+ fights per
season between the 2000's and the 1990's despite 28% more games and 18%
more players).

3. How fightsstart in 2008-09 (through 500 fights)

34% of fights have been in the "want to go" category - two players agreeing to drop
the gloves.
21.6% of fights have come directly after a face-off. Of these 108 fights directly when
the puck is dropped, 30 have come right after a goal is scored (28%).
20.4% of fights have come as a result of a player "standing up" for a teammate. Of
these 102 fights, on only 14 occasions (13.7%) was the player doing the hitting
assessed an extra minor penalty (ie. 86.3% of the time it was a clean hit).
15.2% of the fights were the result of an aggressive action on the part of a player
whereby the player on the receiving end of the action took exception to the hit
and a fight between the two ensued. Of these 76 fights, on only 9 occasions
(11.8%) was the player doing the hitting assessed an extra minor penalty (ie.
89.2% of the time it was a clean hit).
8.8% of the fights were the result of a scrum following a whistle whereby two players
engaged.

4. Helmets and Visors

In 59.2% of fights (296 of 500) in 2008!, one of, both players' helmets have come
off before or during the ~ght. . ~

-, l 1--,,.j-

1 ~

In 40.8% of fights (204 of 500)\~00&\.~9\ ti\,htsets stay on for entire fight.

In 5.4% of fights (27 of 500), both players remove their helmets prior to fighting. In
almost 80% of these instances, both players have visors.
In 1 % of fights (5 of 500), one player removes his helmet before a fight. In three of
these five instances, the player has a visor.
In 41.4% of fights (207 of 500), one player's helmet comes off during a fight.
In 11.4% of fights (57 of 500), both helmets come off during a fight.
In 6.6% of fights (33 of 500), one player has a visor.

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In 2.6% of fights (13 of 500), both players wear a visor.

5. Injuriesin Fights
In 500 fights in 2008-09, 19 players had been injured and missed a total of 230
games. By way of comparison, in 2000-01, in 792 fights, 20 players were injured
and missed a total of 148 games.

6. Fightingin Developmental Leagues

There has been 41 % more fighting in the American Hockey League this season
than in the NHL; 32% more fighting in the Western Hockey League than in the
NHL; 31 % more fighting in the Ontario Hockey League than in the NHL. The
Quebec Major Junior League has had 30% fewer fights than the NHL and the
USHL has had 15% fewer fights.

NHL0072833