12 Controversial NHL Topics Open for Endless Debate

The NHL is no stranger to controversy; in fact, it seems that new ones seem to spawn every season.

Some are as old as the league itself, and they continue to spark debate from fans and media alike, while others emerge as new rules or situations arise.

Over the years some have been laid to rest, while others seem to never die. In the slides that follow we look at 12 controversial topics that have and will continue to spark debate.

Some are as current as this past season and some, while seemingly lighthearted, have been a point of contention to hardcore fans for years.

Fighting

For some a good brawl is what will make a game memorable, while others want to see a return to the old ways when hockey was a gentleman’s sport.

Philadelphia may have been a team that brought fighting to the forefront, historically thought of as a goon squad. Other teams had to adapt in order to compete with the rough style of play.

The fourth line for many years was referred to by many as a checking line. Filled with players who were either antagonistic or pugilists, and sometimes both.

As many of the top players are getting hurt and, in some cases, suffering career-ending injuries, the vocalization against fighting has picked up steam.

It is a debate that will go on for sometime, and most fans have an opinion on the matter.

Hitting from Behind/Late Checks

Connected to the previous slide, these two topics have been given a life of their own in recent years.

This debate is not as broad as the fighting debate, as it has evolved over the last few seasons.

It has become more so what constitutes a late hit, or whether the player in question intentionally hit their opponent from behind.

What has added fuel to the fire of this debate is the fact that the league itself seems confused by what exactly constitutes a late hit as well.

If a fan were to look over this past playoffs, it was clear that this topic still has a large grey area.

The two sides tend to come from those who support the offending player or team, and those who don’t.

Either way, this debate is far from over. Until the league steps in and clearly defines each of these and their penalties, fans will enjoy the debate this issue has to offer.

Canadians vs. USA vs. the Rest of the World

Ask any Canadian fan and they will tell you that the best players in the game are from somewhere in Canada.

For Canadians hockey imbues a sense of pride in the nation; there is always "Canada’s team" in the playoffs.

When NHL chairman Gary Bettman moved two Canadian teams, it meant he hated the nation. When he stopped teams looking to relocate north of the border, Canadian fans wanted him fired.

The Winnipeg Jets were merely him trying to save face.

To Canadian fans, they play the best hockey. It is their sport.

While defeating Russia or Croatia in a world tournament is great for Canadians, it is never as sweet as when they defeat the USA.

Canadian fans see the NHL with an "Us vs. Them" mentality.

This past season even Hockey Night in Canada persona Don Cherry was involved when he blasted Leafs GM Brian Burke for not having enough Ontario players on the team.

Forget getting talent get Canadians.

Racism

Tied in a manner to the nationalist mentality is racism in the sport among fans, and even sometimes players as well.

It is a fairly recent development as far as the sport goes, but when a banana can cause an international incident, it is an issue.

Hockey is one of the last professional sports to have other ethnicities playing at the major league level.

Even in today’s more tolerant climate it still bristles some people’s racist feathers to see a good player who is not white.

Look no further than this season's first-round playoff series between Boston and Washington. Twitter exploded when Joel Ward scored the game and series winner.

Thankfully, those who debate against this topic try to use shame to stop this one, with statements that state racism is archaic and has no place in pro hockey.

The CBA

Fans get nervous when they hear it is a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiation year.

Each year there are some who will support everything the players want, while others argue for the league and owners.

The media is all over this topic, trying to sway the public on the issues in one manner or another. It seems that each time it is different.

With 2012 being a negotiation year, it has once more become a hot topic. The memory of the 2004-05 season lockout is still fresh on the minds of players and fans.

The fans never want a lockout and love the years that the two sides can quickly come to terms. The years the two sides need to meet it becomes a hotly debated topic.

All the good and bad ideas are dissected and placed under microscopes. Some fans see the benefits the owners are trying to push, and others side with the players’ terms.

Either way it becomes a very relevant topic every few years. Not just for the potential of a lockout, but for the changes each progressive CBA brings.

The Shootout

This topic is a fairly recent development, but has hockey purists gnashing their teeth anytime it comes up.

It was added to the NHL for the 2005-06 season as a way to always determine a winner. It has been met with mixed reviews by the fan base and players.

Some feel that it takes away from the spirit of hockey, on any given night any team can be as good as their opponents and a lucky shot should not determine the outcome.

While others see its relevance in the regular season as a way to help determine point total ties at seasons end. The team with more regulation wins moves on, or gains a positional advantage.

Where this topic is most highly debated is in regards to the playoffs. There has been talk for years that the league wants to try the shootout in the playoffs.

There are more fans against it than for it as the postseason is about raising the level of the team's game for the win. This season saw a number of great games decided in multiple overtimes.

This is one of those topics that if the league is not careful could cause a serious blow to its fan base. Overtime is as old as the game itself, and never is it more anticipated than in the playoffs.

Contract Length

Like the shootout, this topic is fairly new. Multi-year contracts have been around for quite sometime now. In recent years, there are some that feel these are getting out of hand.

Locking in a top player for a long time could be great for a club, but it has also been known to backfire for both parties.

When a player is injured or is no longer playing at the level they were signed, having a contract that stretches the better part of a decade or longer hurts the club.

If a player falters, upsets the fan base or is in the way of a young star making a huge splash, the fans turn on them quickly.

There is also the case like the one Rick Nash faced this summer; the team he signed with has not been a contender for a few years and is still years away.

Nash had to formally request a trade, which also hurt Columbus, as the teams looking to acquire him knew that he wanted out.

In the case of Rick Nash, they may not have gotten what they felt was completely equal value for their star player and face of the franchise, but they still did well.

It is a point of contention in the CBA negotiations this summer, as some GM’s feel long-term contracts are detrimental to the game and clubs in the league.

Fans, in some cases, feel these long-term deals will help solve an issue long term, but that feeling can quickly sour when they want that player out of town.

The Offer Sheet

While this method is rarely used, and it is even rarer that the player in question moves, the offer sheet is absolutely detested by some.

If a team makes an offer to a player who is a restricted free agent, their current team has a week to decide if they will match it.

There are those who feel that the offer sheet is using dirty tactics to pick up a desired player, and long-term contracts have been a method of avoiding the offer sheet.

Some will argue that there are players who in the past have utilized the offer sheet to obtain a high payout either from the team offering or their current club.

There are those who argue that the compensation that is given is a fair trade for players who are restricted free agents.

On the opposite side, those against the offer sheet will argue that if a player is given an offer sheet at a young age, the original club will lose out completely.

It may not be among the hottest topics in debate, but when a big name is becoming a restricted free agent, both sides come out of the woodwork to say their peace.

Referees' Bad/Missed Calls

Ask an older Leafs fan what they feel about the no-call on Gretzky or a Vancouver fan about the Burrows incident, and watch their face contort.

There are so many incidents that date well into the history of the NHL, including one that sparked a riot. We’re looking at you Montreal, remember the Rocket Riots?

The ref is by far the most hated person on the ice, no matter how deep the team rivalry goes. In fact, in those cases it tends to be worse should a ref make a bad call or miss one entirely.

What makes this worse is when two fans from opposing sides meet and the topic is mentioned.

It has been known to come to fisticuffs when the fans in question become too excited.

Though, at times, the debate that stems from these incidents bring some fans together; just look at Sabres fans and how they feel united in the bad call that won the 1999 Stanley Cup.

This is one of the few topics that can go both ways, but either way fans love to debate them and even play the “What If?” game depending on which team they support.

Worst Players of All Time

Some of you may be wondering why the worst players are on this list, but go ahead and tell your friend that his favorite player was the worst at his position of all time.

Fans are loyal to their favorite players and hate to hear anything bad said about them, so when a player is mentioned in a "worst of all time" list his fans will fight to have him removed.

At the same time, the debate need not always become a war or words but a careful consideration and reflection as to who truly deserves this honor.

It may be one of the few topics that has brought more fans together than it has divided.

Best Players of All Time

If the worst made the list than the best had to; it also causes fierce debate as fans make a case for their favorite players to be included.

Stats fanatics love this topic as they can lay out with numbers who was a better playmaker or sniper. Other fans will talk about heart and the time that the person in question played.

There is the long standing debate as to who is the greatest player of all time overall, with two names having led the race for years: Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe.

New names have been cropping up recently with the likes of Steven Stamkos and Sidney Crosby.

It has become one of those ever-evolving debates; as newer players break records they, too, are added to the list of candidates.

This is a topic that will be debated until hockey is no longer played.

Team Rivalries

This topic is more than my team hates your team, and like the best of all time debate, it's ever evolving.

There are the classic rivalries that span back to the days of the Original Six, like the Toronto and Montreal rivalry, though that one has lost steam since the last realignment.

As the old ones fade, new ones grow, like the New York Rangers-New Jersey Devils rivalry, or the Chicago-Vancouver one that has sparked in the last few seasons.

Sure there are the teams that float around the bottom of the league and are the verbal punching bag for the rest of the teams, but the ones that have become personal are the ones fans love to debate.

What is more is how the debate has evolved in recent years.

Twitter and Facebook have become huge platforms for fans to espouse their love of their team, and how much better it is than yours.

Now even the teams themselves are getting into the mix, as was seen during this years playoffs when some teams' official Twitter feeds (TheProvince.com) were trash-talking the other guys.

Some try to play on humor, while others can get a little on the harsh side, at least for fans of the team being made fun of, as was the case when the L.A. Kings Twitter feed told the rest of Canada, “You’re Welcome.”

Some fans took offense to this, but it has now added a new dynamic to the rivalries and the debates surrounding them, allowing the teams to promote the rivalry in, hopefully, a light-hearted and amusing way.

Who has the better team is a topic that, like the previous slide, will always be debated, and is one some fans love to have. Whether it gets heated or remains jovial, it will never die.

Conclusion

From the casual fan to the hardcore, there will always be controversies. They are good for the sport, and whether it makes the fans upset at each other or laugh with one another, they will always be around.

Just remember it is a game and no matter how mad a debate makes you, don't go overboard.

Follow @JBWebber_author on Twitter