The NHL is the one thing that is ruined by Americanizing it. Trying to sell hockey to places that don't love hockey has destroyed the game. The mad marketeers don't like fighting, hard hitting and the bench clearing brawl. It's offensive to the casual hockey fan. The commie republic of Mass my not know much but we do bleed black and gold and love old time hockey! Nothing like a Bruin and Canadian brawl!
Agreed. While I still like hockey, I like the 1980's style hockey better than today's game. More hitting. More scoring. More fights.
Hockey's biggest strength is its tradition.
I remember an excellent Bruins-Flyers fight from the early 70s, and it ended up with Derek Sanderson and (I think) Pie Face McKenzie going into the stands at the Spectrum. One of the bloodiest I ever saw was a Flyers-Kings game from the mid 70s. For many years it held the record for most penalty minutes handed out. I just remember Tiger Williams and Don Saleski throwing haymakers.