There’s always debate about whether fighting is necessary in the NHL, given the injury risks and its inherent danger. But Bobby Orr once shared his true thoughts on the matter, and every hockey fan should pay attention to what he had to say.
During the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, the world watched as Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, and J.T. Miller all dropped the gloves with Canadian players within the game’s first nine seconds. It was an incredible display of entertainment that certainly gave Team USA an edge in a game they ultimately won.
Although many loved the fighting in that tournament—and in the NHL in general—there are always voices raising concerns about whether fighting is truly necessary in today’s game and whether the risks outweigh the benefits.
Bobby Orr’s take on fighting
There is also ongoing discussion about the long-term effects of repeated head injuries, with some arguing that fighting should be banned or at least more strictly regulated. But Bobby Orr, one of the greatest defensemen of all time, doesn’t agree.
In his autobiography, Orr: My Story, he made it very clear that he does not want fighting removed from hockey. As an example, he pointed to how the Montreal Canadiens relied on John Ferguson to maintain order on the ice.
“If a player is trying to intimidate a skilled player on your team, what do we want? We want our skilled players playing, so we shouldn’t be doing that,” Orr said, per Sportsnet. “My stand on fighting is, if we eliminate it completely, that fear of getting beat up is a great deterrent. We don’t need guys running around poking and using their stick and hitting (players) that don’t normally hit.”
However, Orr was not in favor of staged or pre-planned fights at puck drop. Instead, he supported players holding each other accountable for dirty hits and plays.
“Let the players police the ice,” Orr said. “They’ll straighten it out. There’ll be an understanding.”
READ MORE: Bobby Orr’s awesome gift to NFL coach John Harbaugh
