Brendan Shanahan knows a thing or two about being an enforcer in the NHL, but the Hall of Famer would like to see fewer big hits and fights in today’s game.
The Toronto Maple Leafs president acknowledged those feelings this week on the “Smartless” podcast hosted by actors Jason Bateman and Will Arnett.
“The way (today), I think, is not necessarily the way I played,” Shanahan said. “I know people get pissed off at me when I say stuff like this, but I don’t get excited to see a big hit. I get excited when I see a big goal. … I don’t want to see any of these young guys on the ice getting carried off [on a stretcher]. I don’t get off on it.”
As a player, Shanahan recorded 2,489 penalty minutes in 1,524 NHL games and participated in 90 fights over his 22-year career.
But Shanahan also served as the director of player safety for the NHL following his retirement and has clearly made it a priority in his post-playing days.
The 51-year-old does, however, feel that fighting can still exist in the NHL, but under certain circumstance.
“If I see a fight in hockey and it’s because someone was protecting somebody or somebody was bullying somebody and you’re addressing it; there’s probably still a place for that in hockey,” he said. “But using it as a tool to intimidate or hurt, I don’t know, it’s going away from that.”
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