Josh Anderson absolutely pummels Connor Murphy for huge hit on captain Nick Suzuki

Josh Anderson is a bit of a dying breed in today's NHL.

The Montreal Canadiens forward plays a throwback style with a focus on physicality and intimidation, which flies in stark contrast to the offense first, skill based game that dominates the NHL these days.

The 28 year old Anderson has a solid 15 goals and 21 points in 51 games for the Habs so far this season. Oh... and he's got 45 PIMs to go along with his offensive production. He may not challenge the likes of Brendan Shanahan or Jarome Iginla in the power forward category, but he can hold his own.

Just check out Anderson absolutely dusting Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy this evening after Murphy laid a big blindside hit on Habs captain Nick Suzuki:

Good scrap, but an even better hit.

I get what Anderson is achieving with this tilt, but I'll say again how much it bugs me that players have to drop their gloves and fight for seemingly EVER good clean hit in the NHL these days. Murphy is a right side D and he sees Suzuki trying to squeeze by and make a play, Murphy makes a good read and steps up on his man. That's textbook defense right there and Murphy gets rewarded for his good read by having to fight the toughest guy on the ice. That hardly seems right...

At this point though, maybe I just have to accept that that is the way this goes? If Anderson does nothing then the narrative shifts and the Habs are made to look like they're soft because they won't defend their captain. So again... maybe I just have to accept that this is the way things go in today's NHL?