NHL Players React to Connor McDavid fight controversy

It was the fight that launched 1,000 subpar ledes, this one included.

On Tuesday night Erie Otters forward Connor McDavid - the consensus No. 1 prospect for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and by all accounts a generational talent - dropped the gloves with Bryson Cianfrone of the Mississauga Steelheads in an Ontario Hockey League game. He sustained a hand injury that will keep him out of the lineup indefinitely and may threaten his participation in the 2014/15 World Junior Championship.

On Wednesday NHL players reacted, and most of them were supportive - even admiring of McDavid's actions.

Former Arizona Coyotes tough and current Portland Pirate Paul Bissonnette called out the overwrought reaction to the fight in the media:

While Bruins heavyweight Milan Lucic was rather impressed: 

He also doesn't think it'll impact McDavid's draft stock:

Willing Toronto Maple Leafs fighter David Clarkson, probably not the best judge of restraint, similarly offered praise for McDavid's actions.

"I liked what he did," Clarkson said on Wednesday, according to Pro Hockey Talk. "You don’t like to see a guy get hurt, but I thought the kid was bugging him and he addressed it. He did a great job."

Clarkson's teammate Nazem Kadri similarly thought McDavid's actions were justified

Kadri also awarded McDavid some hockey player bonus points for, in his estimation, winning the fight:

So as you might expect, the guys who actually play the game professionally understood and admired McDavid's spirit and willingness to drop the gloves. As for McDavid's insurers, they're similarly pleased - this is a perfect excuse to raise premiums on the young hockey phenom.