For the most part, hockey fans worship at the altar of violence.
There’s something about a fight, or a big hit, that’s easily digestible for the casual observer. A skilled play may hurt the opposing team, but a physical play actually hurts them.
The physicality that once dotted the National Hockey League is fading, however. With the long term effects of repeated head trauma now in the limelight, it’s become harder for fans to root for pugilism with a clean conscience.
Thanks to that rise in awareness, today’s game is a cleaner one than it was even five years ago.