Thanks for creating this thread Cornuck, it's become extra hard to get me to start a thread these days, Lord knows
Anyway, a lot has changed in the NHL game in the ten years or so since I started that thread at the other forum, the role of the designated fighter has all but vanished from the NHL game. Much better response here though I have to say and that thread was in a dedicated hockey fighting subforum mind you!
I do think today that I would augment the changes I recommended then (open hand palm strikes and close quarter forearm techniques) with chokes, arm locks and wrist locks from the standing position, these are submission holds that don't normally result in serious injury. Borowiecki-style tackles, trips and throws from the clinch I would continue to rule out, They're far too dangerous!
One idea that has been rattling around inside my head is to bring back the role of the designated hockey fighter for one or two coaches discretion fights. The coaches could be issued green flags which they could raise once or twice per game to signal a challenge to the fighter on the other teams bench. The fighters could then line up and fight at a designated fighting area, heck I'm really spit balling now but maybe the fighters could wear a different colored uniform to designate their limited role in the same way as the libero in volleyball does.
This is the great thing about fighting, there are endless style possibilities out there, I say we need not be wedded to past practices. Why not spice it up a little bit