It seems to me that the clutch and grab style is a part of
hockey.  If it is illegal, then refs should call penalties for it more.
If penalties aren't called, then it would be stupid for a team not to
take advantage of it.  Whether it's fun to watch or not is not
important.  Some would argue that a 1-0 game is more exciting than a 10-9
one.  It's personal preference.  For the past several years, many NHL
fans have complained about the defensive style employed by the New Jersey
Devils and Florida Panthers, citing it as "cheap" or "anti-skill" or even
*gasp* "clutch and grablike".  Nevertheless, it has worked wonders for
those teams.  Some teams play the fast offensive style because they have
fast offensive skaters.  Others play a more defensive style because it
would favor them.  There's nothing wrong with that in my mind.
 
                                                Billy Lustgarten
                                                Cornell '98
 
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