Thomas Gidlow: The NHL is killing the spirit of the game

The officials job is to get the call right. In every sport. On every play. I don't care what it takes if they get it right.

On the Kings goal in the 2014 WCF, they were clearly offside, the linesman completely missed it, and the Kings won the Cup. Better they get it right.

Very well written! Good job.

The intention of the coach's challenge was to kill the spirit of the game

Really? Is that really what you think? If so I pity your world view. It was meant to prevent goals that occurred under ridiculous circumstances. As a Preds fan, I call out the ridiculous offside goal scored by Matt Duchene and the goal Patrick Kane scored with too many men on the ice in the first round of last years playoffs.

That being said, what happened last night was unacceptable on both ends of the ice. The fact that offside an even be challenged is ridiculous because you get situations like the Blues denied goal. Instead, offside should be reviewed in Toronto after every goal. I believe that would result in fewer technicality offside calls as they would be looked at with less scrutiny. The goaltender interference challenge in my opinion is perfectly fine, and how last nights goal wasn't overturned is beyond me.

The trick is to keep the referees from missing completely obvious calls and at the same time prevent the game from being messed up by crap like that offside call. The coach's challenge isn't killing the spirit of the game, but it definitely needs so fine tuning.

Agreed 100%. The goal review process is very flawed and needs to be fixed pronto.

Thomas Gidlow: The NHL is killing the spirit of the game
- Thomas Gidlow

I don't understand how people are saying that it "cost the Blues a WIN" I'm sorry? Was that an overtime goal that was waved off? No. It wasn't. There was what, 7 minutes left in the game? That is a lot of hockey left anything could've happened.

I try...if it's not your cup of tea, that's cool. Just one man's opinion.

"Really? Is that really what you think? If so I pity your world view. It was meant to prevent goals that occurred under ridiculous circumstances. As a Preds fan, I call out the ridiculous offside goal scored by Matt Duchene and the goal Patrick Kane scored with too many men on the ice in the first round of last years playoffs.

That being said, what happened last night was unacceptable on both ends of the ice. The fact that offside an even be challenged is ridiculous because you get situations like the Blues denied goal. Instead, offside should be reviewed in Toronto after every goal. I believe that would result in fewer technicality offside calls as they would be looked at with less scrutiny. The goaltender interference challenge in my opinion is perfectly fine, and how last nights goal wasn't overturned is beyond me.

The trick is to keep the referees from missing completely obvious calls and at the same time prevent the game from being messed up by crap like that offside call. The coach's challenge isn't killing the spirit of the game, but it definitely needs so fine tuning."

- apekspredator


wait, so let me get this straight... you are saying that a "ridiculous offside" should be goal disallowed, but a slightly offside is acceptable?



wow, I think it is your world view that needs the pity there buddy.

Thin penalty calls?

They are letting a poop ton go, so I guess in that respect, you're right, but I'm sick of seeing how much junk isn't called.

Every year bettman and his cronies say the game has never been better and every year they change something it's ridiculous. Take the instigator out let the players police the game instead of the refs trying to control everything. Like giving players phantom 10 min misconducts for talking to each other forcing line changes of players, trying to break up fights to early like with Klein and kunitz they need to fine that linesman he could of got someone seriously hurt. If two players want to fight let them don't be a hero breaking up a fight by yourself wait til there done and when the other linesman is ready. Stop killing the game!!

Every year bettman and his cronies say the game has never been better and every year they change something it's ridiculous. Take the instigator out let the players police the game instead of the refs trying to control everything. Like giving players phantom 10 min misconducts for talking to each other forcing line changes of players, trying to break up fights to early like with Klein and kunitz they need to fine that linesman he could of got someone seriously hurt. If two players want to fight let them don't be a hero breaking up a fight by yourself wait til there done and when the other linesman is ready. Stop killing the game!!
- vandymeer23

You and the OP seem to miss something. I dislike Bettman and his smugness as much as the next fan but these rule changes are not something you can pin on him and his croonies. Rule changes such as instigator rule, coaching challenges etc are brought up at the GM meetings and voted on by all 30 GMs. Whether we like it or not, the game of hockey has evolved and will continue to evolve and all the quirks and quarks that sully the game will eventually be fixed or removed (like the foot in the crease rule). If the game didn't evolve we'd be playing it like in 1910.

Saturday @ 10:58 PM ET

Thomas Gidlow: The NHL is killing the spirit of the game
- Thomas Gidlow


I don't understand how people are saying that it "cost the Blues a WIN" I'm sorry? Was that an overtime goal that was waved off? No. It wasn't. There was what, 7 minutes left in the game? That is a lot of hockey left anything could've happened.

Exactly!
The call cost the Blues a goal, Not the game, That would be like saying Tarasenko's penalty cost his team the win(which it did)(which was awesome).
There is no way that you can honestly say the Hawks wouldn't have been able to tie the game up and then go on to win it!

The replay was brought in to allow more stoppages and allow for more commercials

This is a bit "old cranky hockey writer" syndrome if you ask me. The game needs to progress just like all the other sports have progressed. We have the technologies to make sure that calls are made correctly, so why not use them? Because it holds the game up 5 minutes while the referees look at a call? If that's what it takes to get the call right, then it's the right thing to do.

You make it sound like they're doing this on EVERY PLAY EVER. It's not... it's just the offsides and goalie interference calls. I believe they should be allowed to challenge more plays. The puck hit the netting out of play, and then the Bruins were scored on, but weren't allowed to review the play, because it's not one of the two review-able calls? That's just stupid.

And your correlation to baseball makes no sense. They have replay in baseball, just as they do in hockey. And yes, umps make judgement calls on balls and strikes... and hockey referees make judgement calls on every penalty. Is this not the same?

Replays aren't meant to kill the spirit of the game... they're meant to make sure the right calls are made. Sure the system might not be perfect, but it's the first year. They will refine it after this year, and the year after that, and so on. You can't just get rid of it all together because you didn't like the outcome of a few calls. That's just foolish.

Wasn't the whole thing created to appease the American audience?

Thomas Gidlow: The NHL is killing the spirit of the game
- Thomas Gidlow

Great write up. Not only are they killing the spirit of theach game
They are systematically undercutting the confidence in the on ice officials... who should have last call on the calls

complete nonsense. Adding more to interpretation variable of the referees takes the game backward. You might have 2 hockey fans disagree that Tuesday follows Monday, but what they will agree on is the ref'ing in the NHL is below the quality of the play. From the phantom tripping to the routinely non existant charging call or perhaps the ever changing application of goaltender interference, the what is or isn't a penalty changes from period to period in the same game.
So asking for an interpretation on offside, degrades the game more. Replays have entered the NHL to get it right. Offside is offside, end of story. How can you or anyone else can claim that entering in an arbitrary to the game improves it?
I'll live with the delay, which can be corrected as we go along, rather than allow a game or a playoff series be won by the wrong team.

I have literally no stake in the calls made.

And it may be cranky old writer, but you can't deny that hockey had it right for a while and over the past couple of decades, have made changes to the game that are not needed. Were some of them needed? Absolutely - no one is saying we shouldn't evolve on equipment, the salary cap, headshots, etc etc.

However, when it comes to the rules of the game and the constant need of this regime to tweak something every year, they are tweaking it to the point where it starts to lose what makes it so great.

Why not just go the full route? Install a chip in the puck and use radar to detect every instance of offside. That basically guarantees the call will be right, right?

complete nonsense. Adding more to interpretation variable of the referees takes the game backward. You might have 2 hockey fans disagree that Tuesday follows Monday, but what they will agree on is the ref'ing in the NHL is below the quality of the play. From the phantom tripping to the routinely non existant charging call or perhaps the ever changing application of goaltender interference, the what is or isn't a penalty changes from period to period in the same game.
So asking for an interpretation on offside, degrades the game more. Replays have entered the NHL to get it right. Offside is offside, end of story. How can you or anyone else can claim that entering in an arbitrary to the game improves it?
I'll live with the delay, which can be corrected as we go along, rather than allow a game or a playoff series be won by the wrong team.
- weakglovehand

Why not focus on making referees better instead?

Why not focus on making referees better instead?
- Thomas Gidlow

Because when humans are involved, there will ALWAYS be an element of human error. No matter how good the officials are. That's what the system aims to do, is correct the inevitable human error.

They could go further and implement some sort of technology based goal detection system, but this would almost certainly be used in a similar way that replays are used now. Such as the reviews in tennis. The technology is not used to make the official call, but instead used as a tool if there is a dispute. You would see the same thing in hockey.

Replay is in its infancy in the NHL. There will be growing pains... but there's no reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Because when humans are involved, there will ALWAYS be an element of human error. No matter how good the officials are. That's what the system aims to do, is correct the inevitable human error.

They could go further and implement some sort of technology based goal detection system, but this would almost certainly be used in a similar way that replays are used now. Such as the reviews in tennis. The technology is not used to make the official call, but instead used as a tool if there is a dispute. You would see the same thing in hockey.

Replay is in its infancy in the NHL. There will be growing pains... but there's no reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
- mixturebill

get rid of the babies!! i hate babies...

The officials job is to get the call right. In every sport. On every play. I don't care what it takes if they get it right.

On the Kings goal in the 2014 WCF, they were clearly offside, the linesman completely missed it, and the Kings won the Cup. Better they get it right.
- scottak

Get over it.

Very well written! Good job.
- mayacesxo

Why tanks boo-thang (or Ron Hainsey if you prefer).

Been a hockey fan since my very first game 41 years ago! I 100% there should be more than just one coaches time out and challenge. There have been so many mistakes with the officiating and it seems to have gotten worse rather than better lately!!! Too many times has the outcome of a game been on the wrong call by the officials in hockey, make that most sports! If you take a look back when Seattle won the Super Bowl the Seahawks shouldn't even have gotten to that game. One blown call by the official knocked the 49rs out from going to the Super Bowl. Grant it the Seahawks played like a champion ship team that year with dominate defense but facts are facts blow call put them in. Then the Rangers played LA and I never thought the Rangers would have had a chance to beat LA however 2 horrible calls and a missed non call cost the Rangers the first 3 games! There is no question in my mind that we need the coaches challenge but they should get 3 with 2 time outs since it is beyond obvious that the officials can't get it right. The other problem with the replay is Toronto must get it right since they have made a few mistakes themselves. Betman on the other hand I hope he retires I don't like him trying to fix games by using the officials.