The Ref Fix (and not what you think)

[Riptide]

The SOLUTION is to assign Refs to a series and don’t rotate them around game by game. Teams would understand what they can and can’t get away with. Instead of a game by game variance in tolerance. Warnings to players would carry over.

In short it would be an improvement over what we have now.

The problem is that even game to game the same ref's will call things differently to "manage the game".

What I really wish would happen is that the ref's would have to answer questions (either publicly or from the league) about why some calls happened. Maybe do video things on it after each game, but wait to release those video's until later. Or whatever. But there's been plenty of times that you see something and wonder how the f*** did you manage to f*** that call up that badly?

Unfortunately the NHL doesn't want this as they do not want fans focusing on the officials, but the on ice product.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Golden Bear hockey, i'll take a guess that your name came from the U of A Golden Bears hockey team, and your an Oiler fan who jumped on the Bruins bandwagon for the playoffs.

Nope, you can keep guessing, or you can accept the fact that I don't have a bias in this series, your call.

 

[The List Of Jericho]

Just reread this, you think polaks slash wasn't a penalty?? Really??

I think Nash’s sticks are a piece of trash that’s for sure. That Polak tap was done with barely any real force, he didn’t exactly pound on it

 

[The List Of Jericho]

So Gardiner didn't grab Backes?

Dermotts play was dangerous, if you question that I don't know what to tell you, location of the play, didnydneed to happen

He grabbed Backes because he was wrestling Hyman onto the Bruins bench. If you give that a penalty then every scrum would have 6 guys in the box. Here’s the reality, the refs saw the 4-1 score and were like damn Backes instigated this so let’s put Gardiner in there so the Leafs don’t go on the PP up 4-1.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

He grabbed Backes because he was wrestling Hyman onto the Bruins bench. If you give that a penalty then every scrum would have 6 guys in the box. Here’s the reality, the refs saw the 4-1 score and were like damn Backes instigated this so let’s put Gardiner in there so the Leafs don’t go on the PP up 4-1.

LOL yes, that's what they thought....seriously?? Give your head a shake,

What they really thought was, damn, this would have been easier, one on one with Backes and Hyman, but Gardiner comes in, and by doing that, he draws in everyone, it evens out, 4, 2, and 2, and away we go,

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I think Nash’s sticks are a piece of trash that’s for sure. That Polak tap was done with barely any real force, he didn’t exactly pound on it

LOL yes, there was no slash there, man, how are those blue colored glasses treating ya? Do you get that kidn of bias at school?

 

[The List Of Jericho]

LOL yes, that's what they thought....seriously?? Give your head a shake,

What they really thought was, damn, this would have been easier, one on one with Backes and Hyman, but Gardiner comes in, and by doing that, he draws in everyone, it evens out, 4, 2, and 2, and away we go,

Yea, your right Gardiner holding Backes was worse than Chara coming in punching guys in the face. 2 for hugging, 0 for punching. You make it seem like if Roman Polak decided he wanted to slug Brad Marchand no Bruin would come in to try and hold Polak from doing so lol.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Yea, your right Gardiner holding Backes was worse than Chara coming in punching guys in the face. 2 for hugging, 0 for punching. You make it seem like if Roman Polak decided he wanted to slug Brad Marchand no Bruin would come in to try and hold Polak from doing so lol.

Nope, not really, it amazes me that after a whole six months of watching the game, you don't understand how a scrum works, or how it might be called

 

[The List Of Jericho]

LOL yes, there was no slash there, man, how are those blue colored glasses treating ya? Do you get that kidn of bias at school?

Gardiner laughed at the penalty this morning btw, even the reporters joked about how he got 2 for Chara punching him. Dude, one of the games in Toronto had 1 penalty and last night’s game was no worse, if your not watching the games your opinion is lacklustre. I’m watching slew foots not get called but you think cheap taps to sticks are penalties. 10 years ago that garbage doesn’t happen because the sticks are brittle garbage. Too give a team a 5 on 3 for that was a joke. “Hey, he tapped my stick and it broke, where”s the call” haha. p***y ass hockey

 

[613Leafer]

The problem is that even game to game the same ref's will call things differently to "manage the game"

Game to game? Heck, they do it period to period. What's a penalty in period one isn't a penalty in period three.
What's a penalty for the team up by a goal or two isn't a penalty for the team down by a goal or two.

It's pretty unique to the NHL as far as I can tell. Refs are complained about in all sports, but in the NHL it seems fully acceptable for refs to just change how they want to interpret rules on the fly for "game management" purposes.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Gardiner laughed at the penalty this morning btw, even the reporters joked about how he got 2 for Chara punching him. Dude, one of the games in Toronto had 1 penalty and last night’s game was no worse, if your not watching the games your opinion is lacklustre. I’m watching slew foots not get called but you think cheap taps to sticks are penalties. 10 years ago that garbage doesn’t happen because the sticks are brittle garbage. Too give a team a 5 on 3 for that was a joke. “Hey, he tapped my stick and it broke, where”s the call” haha. ***** ass hockey

LOL you are talking about McAvoy on Hyman, the very fact that you are trying to sell that as a slewfoot, tells me you know nothing about what a slewfoot actually is.

Cheap taps to a stick, he BROKE the damn stick, and he absolutely came down on force.

Whatever man, you go back to your studies, you clearly need time for that, once your able to take off your fan biased glasses and see the game for what it is, then maybe you can have a rational conversation,

Until then, yes, the league is out to get you

 

[The List Of Jericho]

Nope, not really, it amazes me that after a whole six months of watching the game, you don't understand how a scrum works, or how it might be called

Six months of what? I’ve been watching hockey for 25 years and that was some of the most garbage officiating I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen plenty. Do you get that there’s been tons of scrums in this series and not one of those “3rd man in” penalties have been called? Heck, I would get it if Gardiner jumps in and starts smashing Backes but holding? He basically was another linesman. Where’s the call on Chara? Or are guys allowed to smash guys in the face on scrums and that was plain as day.

 

[The List Of Jericho]

LOL you are talking about McAvoy on Hyman, the very fact that you are trying to sell that as a slewfoot, tells me you know nothing about what a slewfoot actually is.

Cheap taps to a stick, he BROKE the damn stick, and he absolutely came down on force.

Whatever man, you go back to your studies, you clearly need time for that, once your able to take off your fan biased glasses and see the game for what it is, then maybe you can have a rational conversation,

Until then, yes, the league is out to get you

And Marchand slewfooting Marner on the draw let me guess, that’s nothing to. Even if you don’t think it’s a slew foot at least it’s a massive interference call on Charlie.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Six months of what? I’ve been watching hockey for 25 years and that was some of the most garbage officiating I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen plenty. Do you get that their’s been tons of scrums in this series and not one of those “3rd man in” penalties have been called? Heck, I would get it if Gardiner jumps in and starts smashing Backes but holding? He basically was another linesman. Where’s the call on Chara? Or are guys allowed to smash guys in the fave on scrums and that was plain as day.

LOL If Saturday night was some of the most garbage officiating you have seen, I doubt you have been watching for 25 years, that's just laughable.

The only reason you think it's garbage, is because of your fan bias, you can't even admit that Polak's penalty, was a penalty.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

And Marchand slewfooting Marner on the draw let me guess, that’s nothing to. Even if you don’t think it’s a slew foot at least it’s a massive interference call on Charlie.

It's a massive interference call, yet, play hadn't started....think about what you just said.

 

[edog37]

I don't have a team in this race but some of the elimination games have been called pretty one sided. Tampa 5 PPs to 1. Penguins 5PPs to 1. Bruins 6 PPs to 1.

Then perhaps the opponent should be more disciplined. Why do hockey fans expect both teams to have equal amounts of power plays?

 

[The List Of Jericho]

It's a massive interference call, yet, play hadn't started....think about what you just said.

I clearly said Charlie....anyways, I’m done with this. I’ll be paying a nice amount of attention in Toronto on how the refs call it. My guess: Little PP’s despite bloody murder offenses that make Game 5 look like an episode of Barney.

 

[The List Of Jericho]

Then perhaps the opponent should be more disciplined. Why do hockey fans expect both teams to have equal amounts of power plays?

Here’s the thing, I’ll be the first to call out guys if they take stupid penalties that they thoroughly deserve. Last night I witnessed not one but two phantom calls and another that was eyebrow raising to say the least.

 

[edog37]

Here’s the thing, I’ll be the first to call out guys if they take stupid penalties that they thoroughly deserve. Last night I witnessed not one but two phantom calls and another that was eyebrow raising to say the least.

These will happen. Good teams adapt & overcome & find ways to win. Bad teams look for excuses.

 

[egelband]

The problem is that even game to game the same ref's will call things differently to "manage the game".

What I really wish would happen is that the ref's would have to answer questions (either publicly or from the league) about why some calls happened. Maybe do video things on it after each game, but wait to release those video's until later. Or whatever. But there's been plenty of times that you see something and wonder how the **** did you manage to **** that call up that badly?

Unfortunately the NHL doesn't want this as they do not want fans focusing on the officials, but the on ice product.

Yes. First “Game Management” needs to go, go, go! League needs to issue some sort of edict. And have it be an ongoing talking point.
And i like the idea of public accountability. Wish that could happen.
As a practical change, I’d have the refs watching from above. Maybe in high seats similar to tennis refs. This would standardize the angles and clear the ice a bit. Too much traffic.
The Linesmen can stay. Need them to drop pucks of course and generally police traffic between the whistles.
The refereeing is a big problem. They need to improve it.

 

[TCL40]

I think Nash’s sticks are a piece of trash that’s for sure. That Polak tap was done with barely any real force, he didn’t exactly pound on it

I don’t think that would have been called had it not been in front of the net. I think slashes and holding calls often come when the negate scoring chances or the potential break away.

Had that been in the corner during the cycle it probably would have been ignored.

 

[HunterSThompson]

I have seen twice in these playoffs that the refs seemingly got help from the 3rd official or Toronto or the other officials on the ice to get calls right. Both times, they got the call right, but if that is happening on these two instances why doesn't it happen more. In the Leafs Bruins game, Marner was whistled for tripping when it should have been Zaitsev. They huddled around the scorers table and got it right, they may have had outside help, I don't know. In Caps/CBJ, Seth Jones was whistled for high sticking, then after the commercial break, they took the call away because it was Vrana's own stick. It sure seemed as though they got a call down from Toronto or upstairs to change the call since it took so long to figure it out. Either way, why make the changes on these two plays and not more.

 

[AgentBrodeur]

I don't have a team in this race but some of the elimination games have been called pretty one sided. Tampa 5 PPs to 1. Penguins 5PPs to 1. Bruins 6 PPs to 1.

this

 

[BrettHullsToe]

The "fix" is to stop thinking the refs have access to multiple views (many of them overhead which are often more clear than ice-level), slow-motion, and all the time in the world to look at a play repeatedly. I would love it if all refs had a helmet cam, and any time there was a question on a penalty, we only look at what the ref saw, in full speed, and just a single instance to make your decision. Looking at something frame-by-frame, from three different angles over the course of 10+ minutes to decide if it was a penalty or not is just a waste of time unless we're talking about supplemental discipline.

If fans want reffing as good as what we can do after-the-fact, it's going to take a team of off-ice officials watching monitors, and lots of stoppages to review footage and call penalties that happened 5 minutes ago.

 

[HanSolo]

Whether games are called closely or they let things go, people are going to complain. While refs are human and can't catch everything, and some may even let individual biases about individual players and teams affect their jobs, fans are also human and inherently biased to want what's best for their teams.

No fanbase is immune and so long as there are refs, there will be fans bitching about them. That's the only conspiracy that holds any bearing on reality.

That said, I'm not so sure it's the best idea to have the same refs run the same series because that only aggravates and exacerbates the extent to which a referee my be tainted by personal bias. For instance, Steve Kozari is a man that is not one to forget things or be immune from personal grudges against players or teams. Anchoring him to one series could absolutely turn the tides of said series in a very negative way.