Who is the “best” referee in the league now?

[Cloned]

Or are they all varying degrees of bad now?

A few years ago Wes Macauley was viewed favorably by both players and fans but I’m pretty sure that’s done a total 180 now.

IIRC Kelly Sutherland won the players poll recently.

Jean Hebert might be the ref with the least “WTF is he watching” moments, although that bar isn’t very high.

These playoffs have exposed further the dreadful state of officiating though. Like it’s never been this bad before.

 

[WaitingForUser]

Is there an option for they are all terrible?

 

[Bones45]

Or are they all varying degrees of bad now?

A few years ago Wes Macauley was viewed favorably by both players and fans but I’m pretty sure that’s done a total 180 now.

IIRC Kelly Sutherland won the players poll recently.

Jean Hebert might be the ref with the least “WTF is he watching” moments, although that bar isn’t very high.

These playoffs have exposed further the dreadful state of officiating though. Like it’s never been this bad before.

So tired of hearing how bad the refs are in hockey -- Yeah -- calls are missed and blown , but doesn't that happen in every sport? -- sports which are far slower than hockey. yup -- a lot.

We get it -- refs are human -- mistakes are made.

BUT -- to answer your question.

Its Andy Van Hellemond.

Still.

 

[Hotsam Batcho]

The amount of ref you suck chants have been on a sharp incline over the years.

 

[M88K]

The one that lets my team get away with more than every team they play

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

The game is too fast and players are all too good to be officiated by guys whose bodies and eyes can't keep up. It will never happen but a lot of younger guys who aren't good enough to play in the NHL but still fairly good hockey players by every other leagues standard should be more financially persuaded to be officials in the NHL.

 

[1909]

Red Storey.

 

[Captain97]

One none of us know the name of cause he doesn't do too much aggregious stuff

 

[FlameChampion]

ABM

Anyone but McCauley.

I think McCauley just annoys me because theres been this perception in previous years he was one of the best. And I personally think hes one of the worst.

Truthfully I can’t even name whos the best. I think its as much on the NHL as it is on the refs though.

 

[Gentle Man]

Gregory Campbell

 

[WaitingForUser]

So tired of hearing how bad the refs are in hockey -- Yeah -- calls are missed and blown , but doesn't that happen in every sport? -- sports which are far slower than hockey. yup -- a lot.

We get it -- refs are human -- mistakes are made.

BUT -- to answer your question.

Its Andy Van Hellemond.

Still.

I would take Andy over any of these guys in a heartbeat to be honest

 

[TD Charlie]

Those who paid admission to be there

 

[Macbanan]

If they are all bad, maybe lower the threshold for what constitutes a good referee.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Get some euro refs

 

[Nunymare]

The amount of ref you suck chants have been on a sharp incline over the years.

I’m just disappointed that we’ve moved away from the “bullshit” chants.

 

[Hotsam Batcho]

I’m just disappointed that we’ve moved away from the “bullshit” chants.

Society has gotten soft. Ears are too brittle now.

 

[hangman005]

@Summer Rose for head ref.

 

[Beezeral]

Jean Hebert might be the ref with the least “WTF is he watching” moments, although that bar isn’t very high.

interesting comment considering this happend 3 days ago.

 

[Cloned]

interesting comment considering this happend 3 days ago.

I said he seems to have the least, not that he doesn’t have any at all. It’s also a low bar as I mentioned.

 

[Edmonton East]

My thread from 2017. I remain Gord Dwyer's #1 fan.

Thread 'The Best Referees Today'

Feb 8, 2017

Pretty much all of us love ridiculing the referees on a nightly basis, but I'm curious who fans feel are the best officials in the game today. Obviously this will be very subjective.

Main reason for the thread is the Devils/Sabers game this past Monday. Gord Dwyer and Ian Walsh did a phenomenal job officiating a game that had some massive, clean hits by both teams. They didn't make knee jerk reaction calls and correctly penalized the teams for going after a player following a clean hit. Unfortunately, this type of great officiating is rarely seen in today's NHL.

• Edmonton East
• Replies: 14
• Forum: National Hockey League Talk

• 

 

[Summer Rose]

This league sorely misses Bill McCreary.

 

[Oleksiak]

I like Wes still.

 

[jetsforever]

Kind of insane how much you guys know about refs
I could probably recognise around 1-2, never mind know their specific tendencies, but maybe I'm not paying enough attention

 

[Captain97]

Kind of insane how much you guys know about refs
I could probably recognise around 1-2, never mind know their specific tendencies, but maybe I'm not paying enough attention

I recognize ~10 for bad reasons. The rest don't bug me too much. So that's my bar, if I don't recognize a ref they are prbly alright.

 

[JoeGarelli]

Francis Charron #6