Are Hockey Goons Being Overpaid and Over Supported?

Recently, there was an article in the National Post on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 regarding hockey goons. They tackled the question of fighters like Jarod Boll and George Parros being overpaid and over supported. Dr. John P. Haisken-DeNew, an economist at the Ruhr and Pestphalian Institute for Economic Research concluded research that showed some players who fight a lot may not be getting points but are still being paid a substantial amount of money. Basically he is saying they are being paid to fight. He thought the players who fought would be penalized financially but this is not the case.

I think players who fight still deserve a solid amount of money. They’re not out there to pick fights, they are out there to protect star players like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin or if on the opposing team, to keep those players away from the puck. For instance, Chris Neil of the Ottawa Senators is sent out if any of their star players are being consistently roughed up or having cheap shots thrown at them. He is out there is send a message to the other time. If you want to mess with out players we are going to mess with yours. Imagine the Senators without Alfredsson, Spezza or Heatley. That kind of loss could knock a team out of the playoffs. Neil had 20 points last season which is not a lot less than many other third and fourth line skaters. There are only a handful of skaters who average more fights than they do points. You need guys out there who can hit and let them other team know they are not the only ones who can be physical.

Haisken-DeNew also goes on to say that teams that use violence do better in the standings and that it can help get you to the cup. Let’s take a look at the standings from last season. Detroit Red Wings were the least penalized team in the NHL last season. They won their conference and went on to win the cup. They play a crisp, clean game filled with passing that often confuses the opposition. They are very good at pulling other team’s players out of position.

Daniel Carcillo was the most penalized player in the 2007/2008 season. He plays for the Phoenix Coyotes who finished 12th in their conference.

Fighting could have something to do with what position a team finishes in but you can’t just generalize or predict it does like this economist did.

Anaheim was the most penalized team in the NHL the year they won the cup. Let’s think about the roster though. Chris Pronger, one of the biggest guys in the NHL, loves to throw his body around. It is no surprise he is going to get called eventually, it is inevitable.

Alexander Ovechkin and Dion Phaneuf are two of the most exciting players to watch in the NHL. Both of them love to toss out big hits and often end up injuring players, even though their hits are clean. Each of them love to rack up points as much as they do big hits. Ovechkin lead the league in points and goals last season while Phaneuf was nominated for the Norris. This shows it is possible to be aggressive and productive.

Fighting is used as a strategic advantage but so is having snipers on your blue line. It is just part of the game. If a guy wants to go out, throw his body around, and maybe a few fists he should still be paid well especially because he is putting his own body on the line for the good of his team. There are point getters and fighters in hockey, that is how it has always been and how it will always be.

There are no cheap shots in hockey and the players always agree to fight. If there is a cheap shot or one player doesn’t want to fight but the other one does anyways, fines and suspensions to get tossed around.