Here’s how the NHL can fix its massive review problem
Fix the Coach’s challenge
The coach’s challenge is currently used to review goaltender interference and offsides calls. NHL fans are split on the latter, with many saying that checking to see if a team was offside by an inch a minute before their goal was scored seems stupid. Still, the rule ensures that referees get the call right and that’s probably the right way to go.
Goaltender interference is a whole other beast. It’s seemingly come down to a coin flip for the NHL headquarters in Toronto. It’s great that coaches can challenge referees to review it, but don’t hope for any consistency with the calls. Still, this play should be reviewable and it is, so calls are often at least seen in slow motion by the situation room and the officials. If it’s obvious, they usually get it right… Well… If it’s obvious, they occasionally get it right.
Why stop at those two things? Yes, reviews slow down the game but not having them just ruined an NHL Western Conference Playoff game. Talk to anyone in St. Louis this morning and ask them what they think about having to wait an extra 15 seconds to get that call right (it was the most obvious hand pass of all time so 15 seconds is a stretch). I bet they wouldn’t see an issue with the game slowing down in this instance. Now, the league looks bad, the players are upset and the referees on the ice are deemed idiots.
We’re down to the supposed elite refs and linesmen at this point – You can’t just get rid of these guys, even if the Blues fan base is calling for them to be fired. St. Louis isn’t Toronto, the fans don’t have that kind of power here. Although maybe they should. Here’s a pretty scary stat if you are a Blues fan:
Coach’s should be allowed two challenges per game. Lost challenges result in a penalty (No coach should get it wrong, there are iPads everywhere). This is a good balance between reviews, fairness and punishment. If the play is very close, it may not be worth the risk. If the play is so glaringly obvious that the player who scored doesn’t initially celebrate the goal, it can be reviewed and overturned.