Question Time: Did Scott Break The Code?

Mike’s question this week focuses on last Sunday’s mass brawl that occurred between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres when a war of words between John Scott and Phil Kessel sparked an all out brawl. But as it is an unwritten rule that enforcers fight enforcers,  the question being asked here is “Did Scott break the code? And does it even matter?”

This subject has ignited a furious debate among hockey fans- many believe so far that Scott didn’t just break the fighting code, he pulverised it! This incident led to Scott being given an instigator penalty along with five minutes for fighting, a 10-minute misconduct as well as a game misconduct. Kessel for his part received a match penalty for attempt to injure. Almost the two squad present served either minor or major misconducts for this fight and new Leaf David Clarkson is facing a lengthy ban for leaving the bench to join in!

The physical difference between Scott and Kessel is significant seeing at the Sabres enforcer stands at a mighty 6 ft 8 whereas Kessel only stands at 6.2- if Scott was a looking for competition then literally he should pick on someone his own size! Many will argue that with Kessel swinging his hockey in self defence was probably a worse crime as it could have really hurt the man- but think of this if you will, if a man that size suddenly skated over and started on you, what would your natural reaction be?

In my opinion- yes Scott did break the fighting code because Hockey is not about just picking fights with any one person, Scott here to prove his worth went after the big fish in Kessel when he should have just spared dropping the gloves for someone who was his equal- as Kessel quoted “"It was pretty stupid, right? He said he was going to jump me...I just backed up," The Leafs forward said afterwards. "What are you going to do? He's a big boy, so if he's coming after me, what am I going to do, right?"

Also what was the need to pick a brawl like this in a nothing pre season game which will amount to zip in the long run of the season a in the play offs this sort of incident would be treated with delight by fans of hockey but in a game like this it is just frowned upon. Kessel isn’t completely innocent in this situation as his attempt to hurt Scott could have been serious, but his impulsive reaction was probably out of sheer fear for the mass bull heading towards him!

I do not feel fighting should be banned from Hockey as it is a staple of the sport- but occasions like this do occasionally bring it down.