Connor Mcdavid's agent calls out the NHL refs

[TheNumber4]

And the NHL use to be like this for the superstars

Yes and it was total bull shit. Which is why the Dead Puck era that was killing interest in the game is now Dead.

 

[illpucks]

Well I know that McDavid got two games as a first time offender for the Leddy "incident."

Does that count?

Thanks for indicating that. No idea he was ever suspended. Wow that is surprising.

 

[LMFAO]

Well the most obvious can openner since Bryan McCabe in 01 happened right in front of the Ref’s eyes with no call last night lol

 

[KidLine93]

I don't think this is going to have the effect he thinks it's going to have. Lol.

cant make it worse. they already don't call the penalties.

 

[Oilslick941611]

And yet the refs do nothing here

you had to go back 6 years to find that? There are in the Reebok Edge 2.0 jerseys there LOL

 

[ohheyhemsky]

This is a really good idea in my opinion. One in which the league would not like at all. When looking at it from a business point of view, I understand why the networks may not want to piss off their business partners to that extent though, seeing as the league would be mad as hell.

All that aside, from my perspective as a fan, I would love that. Would be neat to see how the refs rank, based on whatever advanced stats they come up with. Missed calls /60. Wins given/wins taken away. Stuff like that lol

It sucks, because I pose it as the 'most realistic' change, but it's exactly as you put it. When it comes to the possible loss of business, they wouldn't touch it with a 15 foot pole. It would definitely be interesting, though.

You'd think that with more emphasis put on referees, that more accountability would be shown on their part and we'd receive a better product overall.

 

[Soundwave]

I'm glad the NHL will never overtake the NFL, NBA, MLB or even college basketball or football in the US.

They don't deserve it for the garbage product they offer, the only pro sports league where scrubs have the rules tilted in their favor to be able to compete and the officials don't even try to call the rule book honestly.

Why should an average sports fan not not stuck in Winterland Canada want to watch this product over the other major US sports or soccer?

 

[ohheyhemsky]

you had to go back 7 years to find that? There are in the Reebok Edge 2.0 jerseys there LOL

He posts it in every McDavid thread. Didn't have to go back 7 years. It's saved on his desktop.

 

[Romang67]

"Game management" and "league parity" are two of the dumbest things the NHL has ever come up with.

If you were to make a list of things you need to do in order to market the game of hockey to a mass audience, game management would be the OPPOSITE of what you'd want to do.

Could you imagine the NFL deciding that instead of calling pass interference tighter, they're all "for the sake of parity, lets just allow the defensive player to literally jump on top of the receiver before the ball is anywhere near him."?

Did you watch that Bears-Steelers game on Monday? I'm not sure the NFL reffing is something you want to point to as desirable.

 

[Burke the Legend]

What a baby, f*** that guy. That's how it goes in hockey, in every game and at every level. Even in beer leagues and kid leagues when they are sitting in dressing room before game you don't think someone is saying "hey that guy lights us up let's make sure to check him tight"?? You think the Oilers aren't talking about they are going to give Miller & Petterson extra attention when they play the Canucks? Picking out top guys, limiting their time & space, overall making things difficult for them is universal hockey strategy.

So the refs missed a tripping call it happens. Reffing live and catching everything on ice level isn't easy, but it easy to review footage in slow motion after a pick out missed plays and cry on twitter. MacDavid knows all this, but f*** weasel agents trying to rile up low knowledge fans with their manipulative bs.

 

[North Cole]

"Game management" and "league parity" are two of the dumbest things the NHL has ever come up with.

If you were to make a list of things you need to do in order to market the game of hockey to a mass audience, game management would be the OPPOSITE of what you'd want to do.

Could you imagine the NFL deciding that instead of calling pass interference tighter, they're all "for the sake of parity, lets just allow the defensive player to literally jump on top of the receiver before the ball is anywhere near him."?

"That looked like PI, he held his jersey on the way down the field."
"Yeah, but they're already up two scores and we've called a few too many penalties on the Defense. Thid down here right? They are close to field goal range I think."
"Yes, he usually good from 55."
*Play happens, complete for 6 yards*
*Flag on the ground*
"Holding, offense number 69."
*Refs huddle*
"Yeah there wasn't much there but i wanted to keep them out of field goal range and get something on the offense this drive"

Lmao, it's f***ing atrocious. That Bears game was pretty close to NHL reffing, and it's not something I want to see again. NFL really trying to get there with this new taunting rule though.

 

[ohheyhemsky]

Well, I guess unlike a coach, GM, or player, the NHL can't fine agents for calling out refs... right?

If that doesn't show everything that is needed to be known about the state of officiating in the league, then nothing else will. They do what they want and no one can say anything about it.

Seems like the complete opposite of accountability, right?

 

[belair]

Game management unfortunately. Happened a lot with Crosby and Lemieux too. If they call every penalty oilers would be on the pp half the game.

The funny thing is, no they wouldn't. Players would learn to play within the limitations of the rules and the result would be us seeing how great the elite players in this league really are at even strength.

Nothing is fun about watching guys water-ski behind this league's stars. It tarnishes the image of the game and ultimately closes the skill gap.

 

[Del Preston]

When neutral media members and even the opposing commentators (Jack Edwards) are criticizing the officials for what is allowed against McDavid, there is problem. Call the rule book.

One of the refs last night is a 27-year-old kid with something like six years experience as a referee. Why is he officiating an NHL game?

This is the play that McDavid's agent was referring to:

 

[Oilslick941611]

cant make it worse. they already don't call the penalties.

I struggle to add my 2 cents here because "herr durr Coilerz fanz"

Its the Oilers now, in the past it was other teams, in the future it'll probably some other team that will lose because of a blown call. Oilers are finding ways to win so its not that big of deal right now, but Jesus, someone will get hurt out there. Players are getting whacked in the head with sticks, checked from behind in dangerous situations and tripped all over the ice with no calls, or the wrong calls. One hot head is all it takes to end a career. We've seen Tim Peel lose his job over fake calls, there's a real problem here and it extends far beyond the Oilers getting or not getting penalties.

 

[Seras]

Pick a rule set and call it.

Don't care if it's lots of penalties or no penalties, just consistent from one game to another in the regular season and the playoffs.

 

[snag]

It's okay, according to Torts, McDavid should just shutup. Ironic coming from someone like him, made a living actively not shutting up about anything he could.

The irony...

 

[Soundwave]

What a baby, f*** that guy. That's how it goes in hockey, in every game and at every level. Even in beer leagues and kid leagues when they are sitting in dressing room before game you don't think someone is saying "hey that guy lights us up let's make sure to check him tight"?? You think the Oilers aren't talking about they are going to give Miller & Petterson extra attention when they play the Canucks? Picking out top guys, limiting their time & space, overall making things difficult for them is universal hockey strategy.

So the refs missed a tripping call it happens. Reffing live and catching everything on ice level isn't easy, but it easy to review footage in slow motion after a pick out missed plays and cry on twitter. MacDavid knows all this, but f*** weasel agents trying to rile up low knowledge fans with their manipulative bs.

The best player in the world who dominates puck possession is 147th in the league in penalties drawn?

Really? Hockey deserves its shit standing in global popularity. Only pro sports league that laughably favors scrub talent.

 

[Oilslick941611]

What a baby, f*** that guy. That's how it goes in hockey, in every game and at every level. Even in beer leagues and kid leagues when they are sitting in dressing room before game you don't think someone is saying "hey that guy lights us up let's make sure to check him tight"?? You think the Oilers aren't talking about they are going to give Miller & Petterson extra attention when they play the Canucks? Picking out top guys, limiting their time & space, overall making things difficult for them is universal hockey strategy.

So the refs missed a tripping call it happens. Reffing live and catching everything on ice level isn't easy, but it easy to review footage in slow motion after a pick out missed plays and cry on twitter. MacDavid knows all this, but f*** weasel agents trying to rile up low knowledge fans with their manipulative bs.

You are absoulutley missing the point here, the bigger picture is more damning "then checking a player tighter" or a missed tripping call.

 

[North]

Then teams would have to adapt, and try to defend within the actual rulebook. It’s ridiculous that better players get less calls to even the playing field. How does that make any sense to the league? “We don’t want our stars being too good and showing up the 4th liners”




Well it’s nearly impossible for the refs to call less obstruction on McDavid, so it can’t hurt



The last time I remember someone finally just saying **** it was Talbot back in 2017, and the league was set to fine him until the immense backlash from fans and media started, and they backed down.

Tipp went about as far as he could last night without getting himself fined. You could tell he’s fuming

Tippett made a good point about how the refs set the standard with Drai’s penalty in the first period but then didn’t follow through.

 

[Oilslick941611]

The irony...

he's angling for a job he'll never get

 

[North Cole]

The irony...

Lmao, didn't this guy come out of the dressing room and get into with the refs in the tunnel? Or was that someone else? Torts is the biggest loud mouth out there, and I like Torts, he's a great guy and pretty marketable with his sound bites. Also goes to bat for his players.

That said, he needs to learn some self awareness, he's the last person on the planet who should be telling anyone to shut up.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Sheesh, what a bad look.

 

[Beau Knows]

cant make it worse. they already don't call the penalties.

Maybe, the refs (or the league) do seem to be capable of holding grudges.

Years ago the Pens coach (I can't even remember who coaching at the time) criticized the reffing and for the next 20-30 games it sure seemed like it was impossible for them to get calls. I bet other fans have felt the same way at times. This was 100% deserved - but for a couple years you couldn't even take a penalty against Matt Cooke if you tried, the refs were tired of his antics. We all remember the Burrows situation right?

But I'm hoping the NHL comes to their senses, finally, I don't know how Bettman can be watching McDavid and other stars taking extra abuse and not even consider that it would be bad for business if they were injured on an infraction. He should be looking at the NFL and seeing how Tom Brady still playing at an elite level, without opposing players trying to take his head off, is a boon for the NFL.

 

[Elvs]

Saving videos from 6 years ago to prove that McDavid actually gets favorable treatment from the refs would be adorable if it weren't so pathetic.

I'll now wait for you to post the second "egregious" incident when he hit a Canadien last year. Because two slight indiscretions over a career is an indicator of favorable treatment you know.....

Don't have to go back six years. McDavid was among the players who drew the most calls in the NHL last season.