Dirty Hit Sends Boeser to the Sidelines: Another Example of NHL's Enforcer Problem
It’s a scene that’s all too familiar in the NHL: a player goes down in a heap after a brutal, questionable hit. This time, it was Canucks star Brock Boeser, the victim of a reckless, borderline illegal check by a hard-hitting defenseman. Boeser left the game and, thankfully, avoided serious injury, but it’s another example of how the league’s enforcer culture needs a serious overhaul.
The hit itself was a textbook example of what's wrong with the NHL's "goons" - the players who seem to exist only to lay out opponents with thunderous, often borderline-illegal hits. This type of hit is usually met with a penalty, but the fact that it happened at all is a reflection of the league's condoning of this violent play.
The problem isn’t just with the enforcers themselves, it’s the culture surrounding them. The league seems to thrive on this element of violence, with highlight reels filled with bone-jarring hits and fans cheering on the players who dish them out. It’s a recipe for disaster.
It’s time for a change. The NHL needs to seriously crack down on these types of plays, not just with penalties, but with suspensions. The league needs to make it clear that these types of hits are unacceptable.
The Impact Goes Beyond the Players
The impact of this culture goes beyond just the players themselves. Fans are being exposed to an unhealthy level of violence, and it's setting a bad example for young players. The NHL needs to start promoting the skill and finesse of the game, not the brute force.
The NHL is a fantastic league filled with amazing athletes, but it's time to acknowledge the harmful nature of enforcer culture. This incident, unfortunately, just adds another chapter to the long, disturbing history of violence in the league. Let's hope the NHL takes decisive action and makes the game safer for everyone involved.
It's not about taking the "toughness" out of the game; it's about making it safe and fair. Let's hope this incident serves as a wake-up call for the NHL and its commitment to a more civil, safer game.