Instigator Rule

[Flathead]

Leave it or lose it??? Thoughts?? Does it help or hinder the game?

[Sput]

Lose it. Yes, for the first while there are going to be a lot of fighting majors, but over the long haul you are likely going to see the goal scorers put more in the net and things open up on the ice. Stick work will be almost a nonissue, as it was before "they" put the instigator rule in. Get rid of it for good, and the sooner the better. :groovy:

[Brad]

You can leave it in if you change the way its done.

First, remove the automatic 10-minute misconduct that currently goes with it. Its retarded that a guy gets sticked in the face, drops his gloves like he should and gets an extra 10 for not wacking the guy with his stick.

Secondly, call what truly instigates a fight. If a player really does jump a player unprovoked, then by all means call it. If a player uses stickwork and gets called for stickwork, then the stickwork is what instigated the fight. Don't call an instigator when a player responds with the dukes rather than his stick.

Thirdly, call unsportsmanlike conduct on the guys that want to shake their gloves, but not drop 'em.