Gary Bettman says fighting is part of hockey and believes that some people have been "running off a little too fast on this topic" in recent days. "My view on fighting hasn't changed," the NHL commissioner said Monday. "We've never taken active steps or considered eliminating fighting from the game. "I've always taken the view that it's a part of the game and it rises and lowers based on what the game dictates." While Bettman seemed OK with the game's current stand on fighting, he is concerned about the larger safety issues that may be involved. "The discussion that we've been having is about player safety and injuries," said Bettman. "We've had a number of injuries resulting from fighting recently. "The question is whether or not that's an aberration or whether or not it's something we need to be concerned about."