The NHL belongs to the fast and the skilled. Several different rule changes and rule enforcements have brought the league to this place, and the results are borne out in the statistics this season. As of the 2018-19 all-star break, the NHL was experiencing lower save percentages, fewer fights and fewer shootouts. Meanwhile, the number of players on pace for 100 points or more has skyrocketed. All these trends are interconnected, but let’s look at them individually, with thoughts from the top players in the game today.
FIGHTING
According to hockeyfights.com, scraps are at an all-time low, with just 0.19 fights per game in the NHL. That translates to one tilt every five games, which is half the amount from just five years ago. Simply put, the goons are gone, and even heavyweights who c...
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About the Author
Ryan Kennedy
Ryan Kennedy is the associate senior writer and draft/prospect expert at The Hockey News. He has been with the publication since 2005 and in that span, Don Cherry, Lil Jon and The Rock have all called his house. He lives in Toronto with his wife and kids where he listens to loud music and collects NCAA pennants.
