The NHL isn’t looking to ban fighting for the 2009-2010 NHL season. But under pressure from various reformers, the league is looking to reel in that aspect of its game.

Fighting has become more prevalent in the new NHL for an obvious reason. By cracking down on interference, the league is preventing forwards from blocking onrushing fore-checkers.

Defensemen are getting stapled to the end boards as a result. The increased hitting adds spectator appeal, but it also shortens tempers. Big hits had been rare during the unfortunate Clutch-and-Trap Era, so now big hits often trigger retaliatory fighting.

Ask Jay McKee about that. After he paved Stars forward Mark Parrish, he had to defend himself from one of Parrish’s angry teammates.

That is all part of the New NHL – which, by the way, is a much more exciting product.

But today’s players are bigger than ever before. Many are training as fighting, mastering mixed martial arts techniques. Players are getting slammed to the ice, which is dangerous.

So NHL general managers are recommending stricter enforcement on the instigator penalty, penalizing players for starting fights. Another recommendation is to issue misconduct penalties to fighters who drop their gloves right after a face-off. Such fights are prearranged, not a spontaneous reaction on the ice.

(That happens all the time at Blues games. One player lines up next to an appropriate and asks if he wants to dance. Typically these are accomplished fighters who understand their roles.)

Here is what Bob McKenzie wrote for TSN: “It would be up to the referee to determine what qualifies as a ‘staged’ fight, but if the N.H.L. were truly serious about this issue, it would have gone to a game misconduct as opposed to a 10-minute misconduct. For N.H.L. heavyweights who predominantly fight and do little or nothing else, the 10-minute misconduct may not be much of a deterrent. And if two enforcers wish to ’stage’ a fight, they need only do a better job of making it look as though the fight is part of the ongoing play.

“This recommended rule change appears to be more lip service — smoke and mirrors — than any real concerted effort to get rid of ‘appointment’ fighting, where two players know before the game starts that they will fight. The player need only dress it up to avoid the 10-minute misconduct and many of them won’t care about the misconduct anyway.”

Still, Canadiens tough guy Georges Laraque is miffed by these proposed crackdowns.

“Stupidest thing ever!” Laraque told TSN. “I think it’s a joke. They might as well take fighting out of the NHL . . . fighting won’t be safer; it will be eliminated because an added 10 minute misconduct is too much.”

Laraque went on to say that his crackdown would eliminate the role of a true enforcer. That is a bit of an overreaction, but tough guys like Cam Janssen of the Blues will have to serve other purposes (checking, hitting) to keep their gigs.

Janssen can skate well enough to stay on the league. Some of the more over-sized enforcers may not survive – unless they become a bit more crafty.

If the NHL goes too far with its reform, then you will see an increase of medieval-style violence – slashing, cross-checking, spearing, etc.

Some players will play more recklessly, knowing that their opponent isn’t likely to force them to fight. In turn, angry players will get even by using their sticks to get even. We will see less fighting, but more pole-axing.

Is this really what the league wants?

On the other hand, Ken Campbell, columnist for The Hockey News, made this point: “Players who play an honest, physical game will now be able to go out and do their thing without having to worry about being attacked for doing something that is totally acceptable in the NHL rulebook. If this new enforcement gives players that kind of freedom, you’re bound to see more hits.”

AROUND THE RINKS: The Peoria Journal-Star reports that James Livingston, the Blues third-round pick in the 2008 draft, will join the Rivermen Monday if his OHL club is eliminated from the playoffs this weekend. The sturdy 6-foot-2, 213-pound right wing scored 20 goals and earned 17 assists for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He has also racked up 221 penalty minutes in three OHL seasons . . . By winning five consecutive home games, the Rivermen are making a large charge toward the AHL playoffs . . . Nobody familiar with former Oilers owner Peter Pocklington was surprised to see him busted on bankruptcy fraud charges.