Violence in hockey can be eliminated by making one small "system change" (Knocking Sense Into The NHL - March 9). Right now, the player who commits the infraction, serves the penalty. Each team has its mediocre-player goon squad whose job is to intimidate the opposing team's stars. Even if two players go off for fighting, the team that instigates the fight still benefits: One mediocre player takes out a star player.
What if you decouple or separate the infraction from the penalty? The opposing coach would make the call on who sits out the penalty. It could still be the player who committed the infraction or, if the coach is smart, it could be the star player of the team who committed the infraction - or even the goaltender.
Fighting would stop overnight, since there would be a shift or reversal of benefits.