Do thoroughness and grit still have a place in today's NHL? It's a question that has come up with increasing frequency in recent years. After all we know about concussions today, is it still necessary for a player to fight? This week we saw the referees stop two players from fighting even though they both dropped their gloves. Many have wondered if the NHL could go in that direction. Former NHL player Pau Bissonette apparently still believes that toughness has its place in modern field hockey.
This summer, the Edmonton Oilers got rid of forward Zack Kassian. They traded him to the Arizona Coyotes for cap relief. Paul Bissonnette clearly not agree with this move and suggests that the Oilers will lack grit in the upcoming season.
Leadership and grit are still important in today's NHL, but I do not think a player has to fight in every game to be respected in the league. We will see how that plays out for the Edmonton Oilers this season.