Fighting is on the rise in the NHL this season. According to the league, there have been 34 games with one or more fights through 120 games, up from 25 last season and 26 in 2024-25. One NHL veteran told ESPN there are "way more fights," adding that the increased physicality and competitiveness is good for a league that sets itself apart from other major sports.
The NHL's biggest stars are part of the trend. Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, who led the league with 53 goals last season, sat in the Avalanche dressing room last Tuesday with stitches across his nose and a bruise under his left eye after a fight with Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz. It was MacKinnon's second bout of the season, following an earlier fight with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke. MacKinnon said his Maritimes upbringing made him feisty, adding that he might do it "a couple more times." ESPN analyst Erik Johnson, who played 11 seasons with MacKinnon and won the Stanley Cup with him in 2022, suggested MacKinnon's fights could create a copycat effect around the league.
Players offered several explanations. One veteran said fighting is a quick way to build chemistry with new teammates and show commitment. Another said some players want an early-season fight to remind themselves of their physicality. Hockey Fights.com founder Daniel Gallant believes the league's shorter training camps, following the move to an 84-game season, have pushed teams to find skilled, physical players who can set the tone.
Fights are still rare in preseason, but early regular-season games can produce them when an opportunity arises. Whether the trend continues will be watched closely as the season unfolds.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing