NHL players were once again asked if the instigator rule should be abolished. (Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)
The NHL's instigator rule has been debated since it was implemented in 1992. It was put in to curb fighting, but the rule has continued to be debated whether the infraction has been necessary.
Does it encourage agitators or pests to run around without facing any retribution? Does it discourage retaliation? Should the players be allowed to police themselves?
Is the rule even called properly? How many times in recent seasons have we seen a clean check from a player and that player has to immediately fight an opponent because of the hit?
Yet, that opposing player, who engages, does not get called for instigating. So why have the instigator role?
As part of the Hockey Night in Canada/NHLPA player poll this year, we once again asked the players whether they would like to abolish the instigator rule. Last year, 66 per cent of the respondents wanted to keep the instigator rule. This year, only 53 per cent wanted to hang on to the rule.
The rest of the poll will be released and debated on a special Sunday evening edition of Hockey Night in Canada. There are questions in the poll on the player's attitude towards fighting, their choice of the best team to play for and which player is the hardest to get the puck from.
There's lots of stuff that will fuel some great hockey conversations.
We'll be talking about the findings during the first and second intermissions of the Montreal Canadiens-New Jersey Devils game Sunday at 6 p.m. ET and on CBCSports.ca.
To review last year's poll go to http://www.playerspoll.ca/.
Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
