As we all know, this debate has been going on in Canada forever. Are we any closer to achieving a consensus? Perhaps.
What is clear is that the issue is not really about fighting any more. That issue is pretty much settled. It's really about who is going to control the game of hockey. Will it be the "old boys club" that have been running things forever? I know these people and have listened to them rant in the dressing rooms for the 57 years I've been playing the game. Thankfully, their numbers have dwindled quite a bit over the years. On the lowly amateur level I play, they barely have a voice and if they do, the usually keep it to themselves.
On The CBC and the local sports stations, that's an entirely different story. They are the fight broadcasters who have the media and the team owners to answer to. They will continue to promote this style of hockey because that's what they are paid to do.
Give the Canadian hockey public a fight-free NHL and my guess is, many of the former fans will return. Take the meanness and brutal cruelty out of the game and even more will return.
Those that say they like fighting will forget it was even there in very short order. We're not talking mensa here folks. These guys are not the thinkers of the world.
I'm all for replacing fighting with hugging.