No to the 'staged fight' rule.

I have to say that I applaud this rule, it’s the right decision. Thank God sanity crept back into the equation and we didn’t create some rule based on a hasty decision. While it was unfortunate that a player was killed in a fight last winter, the same thing could happen with a check from behind or an open ice hit. It was a freak accident.

I was once accused by an unnamed person of relishing a good fight. Yep, you got me, guilty as charged. I have yet to go to a hockey game witness a fight and see people head for the exits, I have seen them stand and cheer though. Fighting polices the game and keep the so called “agitators” in check.

LAS VEGAS -- It appears the "staged fights" rule recommended by the NHL's 30 GMs will not see the light of day.

The players discussed it at their meeting here this week and they recommended to their members on the competition committee to vote against it. The committee needs seven of 10 votes to pass a new rule and won't get them if all five players vote "no" next Thursday when the group meets in Montreal.

The union brought in a number of tough guys Wednesday and they shared their universal thumbs-down on the "staged fights" rule proposition.

"They gave the group a pretty clear message," said NHL Players' Association executive Glenn Healy. "What's the code? What are the rules of engagement? Everyone talks about it, but what is it? So we had these guys come in and talk about it.

"We're about safety, but we also understand that if a fight breaks out in a game, Gandhi isn't leaving; he's going to stay and watch it. We understand that it's part of our sport, it cleans up our sport, it polices our sport, and it's entertainment. Goals, saves, fights -- thank you."