--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The model for an NHL without fighting is…" description: "\"The model for an NHL without fighting is right there in front of us. The [playoffs are] the time of year that fans love best; when the best hockey is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/ken-dryden-39221_benches_the-model-for-an-nhl-without-fighting-is_91659.jpg" --- # The model for an NHL without fighting is right there in… ![“The model for an NHL without fighting is right there in front of us. The [playoffs are] the time of year that fans love best; when the best hockey is played... [The] enforcers don't play. Even mini-enforcers... remain on the bench. Teams and coaches can't afford anything stupid and…” quote by Ken Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/ken-dryden-39221_benches_the-model-for-an-nhl-without-fighting-is_91659.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/ken-dryden-39221_benches_the-model-for-an-nhl-without-fighting-is_91659.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/ken-dryden-39221_benches_the-model-for-an-nhl-without-fighting-is_91659.jpg) > “The model for an NHL without fighting is right there in front of us. The \[playoffs are\] the time of year that fans love best; when the best hockey is played... \[The\] enforcers don't play. Even mini-enforcers... remain on the bench. Teams and coaches can't afford anything stupid and unpredictable... With no one to fight back for them, players go harder into the corners, more determinedly to the front of the net. If they want to fire up the crowd and their teammates, they have to do it themselves. And in the playoffs, they do.” [Ken Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playoff intensity forces players to self-motivate and engage physically without enforcers, raising effort and crowd energy. **In simple terms:** Playoffs demand self-driven aggression. Key Takeaway Enforcers become unnecessary in high-stakes games. Themes competition motivation team dynamics sports culture leadership Mood intense inspirational Type observation analysis When to use this quote - playoff games - team meetings - coach strategies - player development Key Concepts self-reliance crowd engagement strategic play Practical Applications - coaching seminars - sports commentary Questions to Reflect On - How does removing enforcers change team chemistry? - What other sports could adopt this self-motivation model? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benches/) [Best hockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-hockey/) [Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaches/) [Corners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corners/) [Crowds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowds/) [Fans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fans/) [Fight Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-players-1136743/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Fronts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fronts/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Hockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hockey/) [Hockey Played](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hockey-played-1136744/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [Model Nhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/model-nhl-1136742/) [Models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/models/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Nhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nhl/) [Nhl Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nhl-fighting-1136741/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Played Enforcers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-enforcers-1136745/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Playoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playoffs/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Teammate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teammate/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unpredictable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpredictable/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I'm going to actively fight for players' rights. Not while I'm in college. I'm always going to keep a consistent track record of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-rosen/i-m-going-to-actively-fight-for-players-rights-not-while-i-m-in/) [Josh Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-rosen/) > [Phil Jackson would fight his own players in practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-albert/phil-jackson-would-fight-his-own-players-in-practice/) [Marv Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-albert/) > [Baseball happens to be a game of cumulative tension but football, basketball and hockey are played with hand grenades and machine guns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leonard/baseball-happens-to-be-a-game-of-cumulative-tension-but-football/) [John Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leonard/) > [Personally I don't believe in standing on the ice, or jamming the blueline, waiting. 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Get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bettman/my-message-to-the-kids-and-our-fans-is-hockey-s-a-great-game-there-s/) [Gary Bettman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bettman/) > [Everybody whose anybody in hockey has played in Hershey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/everybody-whose-anybody-in-hockey-has-played-in-hershey/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [ It \[Socialism\] was a kind of political hockey played by big, gaunt, dyspeptic girls in pants. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/it-socialism-was-a-kind-of-political-hockey-played-by-big-gaunt/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [Its an honor to be chosen to represent the best hockey game in the world,... Hockey fans are looking for the most authentic experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-boitano/its-an-honor-to-be-chosen-to-represent-the-best-hockey-game-in-the/) [Brian Boitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-boitano/) > [Street hockey is great for kids. It's energetic, competitive, and skilful. And best of all, it keeps them off the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kyle/street-hockey-is-great-for-kids-it-s-energetic-competitive-and/) [Gus Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kyle/) > [You have Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan... and Mario Lemieux. He's the best in hockey, in my opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kordell-stewart/you-have-tiger-woods-michael-jordan-and-mario-lemieux-he-s-the-best/) [Kordell Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kordell-stewart/) > [By 1946, I knew Detroit was the best hockey city in the Original Six.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lindsay/by-1946-i-knew-detroit-was-the-best-hockey-city-in-the-original-six/) [Ted Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lindsay/) > [We know that hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death. Life is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-shero/we-know-that-hockey-is-where-we-live-where-we-can-best-meet-and/) [Fred Shero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-shero/) > [You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-don-t-have-enough-talent-to-win-on-talent-alone/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) ## More by Ken Dryden > [It was the kind of light blow that is exchanged without notice or consequence hundreds of times in a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-dryden/it-was-the-kind-of-light-blow-that-is-exchanged-without-notice-or/) [Ken Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dryden/) > [The most obvious and easiest answer if you've got a head injury is a better helmet. 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Not a puck, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-dryden/because-the-demands-on-the-goalie-are-mostly-mental-it-means-that-for/) [Ken Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dryden/) > [A goalies job is to stop pucks,… Well yeah, thats part of it, but you know what else is?... Youre trying to deliver a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-dryden/a-goalies-job-is-to-stop-pucks-well-yeah-thats-part-of-it-but-you/) [Ken Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dryden/) > [Game in, game out, year in, year out, just a kid cruising the ice looking to cause trouble - a wicked wristshot for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-dryden/game-in-game-out-year-in-year-out-just-a-kid-cruising-the-ice-looking/) [Ken Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dryden/) > [“For there is a life there, and in destiny and romance there is no room for life. Painted as they are with broad brush…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-dryden/for-there-is-a-life-there-and-in-destiny-and-romance-there-is-no-room/) [Ken Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dryden/) > [“During the Olympics, the phrase “Own the Podium” had been a source of national debate and division. Since the Olympics, it has become part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-dryden/during-the-olympics-the-phrase-own-the-podium-had-been-a-source-of/) [Ken Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dryden/) [Explore all 11 Ken Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dryden/) ## More Benches quotes > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. 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Whoever first came up with the idea is a genius: free public resting places where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/truly-the-bench-is-a-boon-to-idlers-whoever-first-came-up-with-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [I'm not one of those actors who romanticizes his trials working out and brags that he can bench press a panda now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/i-m-not-one-of-those-actors-who-romanticizes-his-trials-working-out/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [We're just a fragile team right now. It seems like when we have a little bit of adversity, when something goes wrong, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-walz/we-re-just-a-fragile-team-right-now-it-seems-like-when-we-have-a/) [Wes Walz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-walz/) > [There were crimson roses on the bench; they looked like splashes of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/there-were-crimson-roses-on-the-bench-they-looked-like-splashes-of/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Every man in the game, from the minors on up, is not only fighting against the other side, but he's trying to hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-cobb/every-man-in-the-game-from-the-minors-on-up-is-not-only-fighting/) [Ty Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-cobb/) > [I was in a garden at the Rodin Museum. For a few minutes I was alone, sitting on a bench between two long hedges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/i-was-in-a-garden-at-the-rodin-museum-for-a-few-minutes-i-was-alone/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [Israel has incredible entrepreneurial spirit and a deep bench of technology talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/israel-has-incredible-entrepreneurial-spirit-and-a-deep-bench-of/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [At 200 pounds, with a 17-inch neck, a resting pulse of 78, a bench press of 200 pounds, I was very much indeed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-benedict/at-200-pounds-with-a-17-inch-neck-a-resting-pulse-of-78-a-bench-press/) [Dirk Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-benedict/) > [When lifting weights, nothing feels better than achieving a high point on the bench press with no help from your spotter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/when-lifting-weights-nothing-feels-better-than-achieving-a-high-point/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [It's so worth-while being a judge, because, if I make good, I can help prove that a woman's place is as much on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-ellinwood-allen/it-s-so-worth-while-being-a-judge-because-if-i-make-good-i-can-help/) [Florence Ellinwood Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-ellinwood-allen/) > [We must reject dictatorship in whatever form it takes--and especially when it rears its head in our own midst on the bench.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/we-must-reject-dictatorship-in-whatever-form-it-takes-and-especially/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) [Browse all 305 Benches quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benches/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The model for an NHL without fighting is right there in front of us. The [playoffs are] the time of year that fans love best; when the best hockey is played... [The] enforcers don't play. Even mini-enforcers... remain on the bench. Teams and coaches can't afford anything stupid and unpredictable... With no one to fight back for them, players go harder into the corners, more determinedly to the front of the net. If they want to fire up the crowd and their teammates, they have to do it themselves. 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