Villella McMeans
Using the Force...
After watching game 3 and 4 of 2021 playoffs I had to start this poll. What the f are these refs doing?
No need to go over the details for anyone that watched those games like I did, suffice it to say that something has to change - but how?
I say add a 3rd referee that can overrule the other 2 - anyone else have better ideas can post below.
This 3rd ref would be able to overrule any decision made by the other 2 refs, as well as stop the play and call penalties etc.
The idea would be that the 3rd ref would be passive and not interfere at all unless absolutely necessary to ensure the integrity and fairness of the game - not unlike calling the control room upstairs, but this check and control over the refs would be at ice level, to be party to everything other refs say and everyone else at ice level too. The 3rd ref could stay seated at centre ice with the time keepers with his skates on or something.
This 3rd ref could be one approved of by the NHLPA, as well as whoever approves of them now probably the ref union and NHL I guess - point being that at least it wouldn't be just the same refs we got now being the 3rd ref. Maybe some former players or coaches could apply for this job, who knows.
For example, only egregious missed calls would cause the 3rd ref to stop play, or continuous missed minor calls etc - if the other 2 refs are calling too many or too few penalties this is up to the 3rd ref to intervene or not. The 3rd ref could be subject to press interviews like players and coaches are.
If the current refs and linesmen don't want interference from the 3rd ref, they can try harder to call games more fairly and more consistently - or face more interference from the 3rd refs, the 3 ref could simply gave them his opinions at commercial breaks and intermissions etc, something like warning them at commercial breaks that if calls aren't getting more consistent he'll make the calls for them.
Ideally, this 3rd ref would not even have to interfere, and instead let games continue entirely as we see them now - nothing else need change in the game.
It'd be interesting if the 3rd refs that would be approved by the NHL and NHLPA and refs union could all be former NHLers - that'd be good karma.
No need to go over the details for anyone that watched those games like I did, suffice it to say that something has to change - but how?
I say add a 3rd referee that can overrule the other 2 - anyone else have better ideas can post below.
This 3rd ref would be able to overrule any decision made by the other 2 refs, as well as stop the play and call penalties etc.
The idea would be that the 3rd ref would be passive and not interfere at all unless absolutely necessary to ensure the integrity and fairness of the game - not unlike calling the control room upstairs, but this check and control over the refs would be at ice level, to be party to everything other refs say and everyone else at ice level too. The 3rd ref could stay seated at centre ice with the time keepers with his skates on or something.
This 3rd ref could be one approved of by the NHLPA, as well as whoever approves of them now probably the ref union and NHL I guess - point being that at least it wouldn't be just the same refs we got now being the 3rd ref. Maybe some former players or coaches could apply for this job, who knows.
For example, only egregious missed calls would cause the 3rd ref to stop play, or continuous missed minor calls etc - if the other 2 refs are calling too many or too few penalties this is up to the 3rd ref to intervene or not. The 3rd ref could be subject to press interviews like players and coaches are.
If the current refs and linesmen don't want interference from the 3rd ref, they can try harder to call games more fairly and more consistently - or face more interference from the 3rd refs, the 3 ref could simply gave them his opinions at commercial breaks and intermissions etc, something like warning them at commercial breaks that if calls aren't getting more consistent he'll make the calls for them.
Ideally, this 3rd ref would not even have to interfere, and instead let games continue entirely as we see them now - nothing else need change in the game.
It'd be interesting if the 3rd refs that would be approved by the NHL and NHLPA and refs union could all be former NHLers - that'd be good karma.