Why doesn't the NHL use instant replay to review illegal hits?

[EmpireWF]

If hockey fans want their fights in the NHL, then how can you explain why everyone loves the fuck out of Olympic hockey which doesn't have it?

Obviously, fighting helps TV ratings and is good for business so NHL will never forbade it unless someone is seriously hurt because of it. But people who talk about it being part of the fabric of the sport, lol, bullshit. It's about $$$.

[leaffan]

If hockey fans want their fights in the NHL, then how can you explain why everyone loves the fuck out of Olympic hockey which doesn't have it?

Obviously, fighting helps TV ratings and is good for business so NHL will never forbade it unless someone is seriously hurt because of it. But people who talk about it being part of the fabric of the sport, lol, bullshit. It's about $$$.

Pretty easy. Olympics are about one nation vs another and when it comes to that you will find people that never cared about certain sport will watch and want to know if they will win gold.

[Ravin]

If hockey fans want their fights in the NHL, then how can you explain why everyone loves the fuck out of Olympic hockey which doesn't have it?

Obviously, fighting helps TV ratings and is good for business so NHL will never forbade it unless someone is seriously hurt because of it. But people who talk about it being part of the fabric of the sport, lol, bullshit. It's about $$$.

Because as has been mentioned a bunch of times in this debate, NHL hockey and Olympic hockey are two different things. Why everyone continues to think Olympic hockey is the standard in which the game should be played is beyond me, but it isn't. And it is also no surprise that the same people who don't like fighting enjoy the Olympic hockey more.

But also, it is common sense. If you watched the Canada/USA gold medal game, they were very physical playing, and if a fight could have broken out, I guarentee those two nations would have done it. But go look at the rosters. Who was going to drop the gloves on teams that are built of entire skill players? Team Canada, the only guys I can see doing that were Iginla, and then maybe Getzlaf, Perry and MAYBE Thronton, but I doubt it. I don't remember who the American's had, but they didn't have a ton of guys who would drop them either.

Now switch this to the NHL. You do not have enough of those top of the line skill players to fill every roster spot on the team. You need those 3rd line checkers, and 4th line tough guys. They are part of a balanced team. Go look at every cup winning team and you will find a guy who drops the gloves. It doesn't happen all that often in the playoffs, but then again, those guys are not playing as much, and playoffs are all about match ups.