They need to fix the reffing in the league

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

While I like the fact that they had intended to crack down on diving and hooking/holding type calls, it seems to me that this year, they are almost solely focusing on these type of calls, and letting much more dangerous plays go unchecked.

Its a leaguewide thing too. You see a player get called for a trip or something, that wasn't anything more than just two players getting caught up, then you see the refs letting a three stride charge and a jump to hit someone, who is either fully turned away, or 3/4 turned away from the play, and gets boarded, go uncalled.

There are some horrible calls being made, like the handpass from the faceoff that was called back when the oilers scored, or when Cheechoo was given a major and a game misconduct when a penguin lost his edge and went into the boards, cheechoo was skating with him, and his legs hit the guy, but it wasn't a penalty, it wasn't avoidable.

The idea of calling the games tight is great in principle, because players know that everything will be called, and will learn to adapt to the game, but the games have been woefully inconsistent and its only making the game a special team game, rather than giving players a chance to learn the calls and correct it for the future.

Also, please oh please get rid of the god damn instigator rule.

[Chadd 916]

The officiating has been somewhat suspect this year and I would hope that gets resolved soon. I still think removing the instigator rule would be just about the dumbest thing the league could do.

[ktang 34]

Before, when the refs only called blatant things, the spectators could think that the refs were using discretion to manage the game. The feeling was that the refs saw the infractions, but didn't call everything to maintain flow and so that each team got its quota of power plays.

I think that, now that the refs are supposed to call everything they see to a consistent standard, you can see inconsistencies among what each ref can observe and perceive. Some refs, correctly, only call things that they see. Others call what they think they saw (e.g. McGeough's hand pass call against the Oilers, somebody falling because he lost an edge, etc.).

I think more of them will be calling what they think they saw, and on replays spectators will see the resulting mistakes. It would be better if they called what they saw, and if they missed something, that's because of the speed of the game and the number of players on the ice.

[cbjshelley45 0]

yeah there have also been alot of bad calls but also alot of non-calls, during the jackets/wings game 2 wings goals happened because a detroit player was laying on top of leclaire. and a columbus player was tripped on a breakaway and they didnt award a penalty shot or even call a 2 minute minor!

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

The officiating has been somewhat suspect this year and I would hope that gets resolved soon. I still think removing the instigator rule would be just about the dumbest thing the league could do.

I don't know, I don't think you would see a surge in fighting with it removed. And I think there has been a surge in stick related injuries since it was brought in, because players are more wont to slash, high stick as a defense/offensive tool (not D/O skill, but in terms of physical confrontation).

I have no stats to back that up, it just seems like since the instigator rule was taken out, some of the smaller guys have been less afraid to double hand others across the wrist, or cross check into the boards and such.

I think removing the instigator would decrease some dirty plays and not neccessarily increase fighting by a lot

[Chadd 916]

The officiating has been somewhat suspect this year and I would hope that gets resolved soon. I still think removing the instigator rule would be just about the dumbest thing the league could do.

I don't know, I don't think you would see a surge in fighting with it removed. And I think there has been a surge in stick related injuries since it was brought in, because players are more wont to slash, high stick as a defense/offensive tool (not D/O skill, but in terms of physical confrontation).

I have no stats to back that up, it just seems like since the instigator rule was taken out, some of the smaller guys have been less afraid to double hand others across the wrist, or cross check into the boards and such.

I think removing the instigator would decrease some dirty plays and not neccessarily increase fighting by a lot

Stickwork should be down with the new enforcement standards (and it is), why would you want to encourage goons to beat down skill guys? If someone screws with one of my guys so badly that I think something needs to be done about it, I'm more than willing to take the suspension that comes along with my actions. It should be about team toughness and not one designated fighter per team. Stand up for yourself, stand up for your teammates and don't just expect some guy who averages less than 5 minutes of ice a night to fight all of your battles for you.

[jeffw 1]

or when Cheechoo was given a major and a game misconduct when a penguin lost his edge and went into the boards, cheechoo was skating with him, and his legs hit the guy, but it wasn't a penalty, it wasn't avoidable.

Call me a homer if you want but Cheechoo cross checked Eaton in the back while they were still inside the faceoff circle and then rode him into the boards.

Good call.

[pantherfan 0]

The officiating has been somewhat suspect this year and I would hope that gets resolved soon. I still think removing the instigator rule would be just about the dumbest thing the league could do.

Is there a refferee's disgretion(sp?) like if a player runs another player in to the boards from behind really bad another guy should have the right to teach the guy not to mess with his team

[Chadd 916]

The officiating has been somewhat suspect this year and I would hope that gets resolved soon. I still think removing the instigator rule would be just about the dumbest thing the league could do.

Is there a refferee's disgretion(sp?) like if a player runs another player in to the boards from behind really bad another guy should have the right to teach the guy not to mess with his team

If someone were to jump the guy right away, a lot of refs wouldn't call an instigator unless the guy who got jumped refused to fight and the other guy wouldn't stop the beat down. If you really know the rules, you can make it all even out in the end if you want to.

[Tricky4L 0]

Bottom line is that something needs to be done about the officiating... fast! I find it irresponsable of the leauge to allow such a slump in this so called "new" enforcement. The majority of leauges in the world have not adopted this enforcement policy based on its sucess in the NHL but now it seems like its an on again off again standard. What is happening now is what scared me from the start of last season, what if it doesn't work/become minimalized, then how will it be adressed?

[Eazy_b97 1]

There's always been alot of problems with the calls. It happens, the more penalties you call, the higher expectations are when you miss one, or make a mistake. If you don't call anything, in theory, the playing field is equal. Once you start blowing the whistle, you take responsibility for keeping things "even". This is impossible to do. It simply cannot work that way. You'll have calls that cost you games or other things happen. It sucks, but this season hasn't been as bad as last in my eyes. It's the same stuff they did last year.

PS - That Cheech penalty wasn't a bad call at all.

[kosydar 0]

Hey Eazy...Whats going on with the Leafs? Not a bad start to the season at all. Everytime I check, it seems they have won

So long as its not Ottawa they're playing. Raycroft has been great this year. The scoring has been really balanced so far-- I think I heard that Toronto leads the league in # of players with 10+ pts. There has definitely been really good depth, which has been key. The defense has played surprisingly well for having guys like White, Bell, Belak and Harrison in and getting quality minutes. Kubina coming back on Thursday will really help.

[awall 0]

I'm still a relatively new hockey fan so please don't crucify me for this suggesiton. Why doesn't the NHL consider allowing the refs access to an instant replay. It might add a few delays to the game where the TV people can sell an extra add or two. Limit each team's ability to ask for a "challenge" like the NFL does and this might help the officiating some.

[Chadd 916]

I'm still a relatively new hockey fan so please don't crucify me for this suggesiton. Why doesn't the NHL consider allowing the refs access to an instant replay. It might add a few delays to the game where the TV people can sell an extra add or two. Limit each team's ability to ask for a "challenge" like the NFL does and this might help the officiating some.

Ever since they decided the NHL head office has to get involved in every goal review. the NHL replay process has become a joke. Stopping a game for nearly 10 minutes at a time is not good for the game. Not to mention that people tend to think something fishy is going on when there is a review that looks like a goal on TV that then gets disallowed.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I didn't want to start a new thread, but the officiating in tonights Leafs was beyond a joke. Fraser actually manipulated the outcome of this game. Took away a Leaf goal in the third, refused to make any calls against the Isles (first goal was off a blatant hold on Sundin behind the net), then gave a number of phantom calls to the Isles until they tied the game. At which point he allowed NYI to jump Sundin all night long in overtime until it was a SO.

I have never seen a game this poorly officiated.

[cabreezy 0]

Speaking of the Ranger game, erm, I mean, Martin Brodiver?

[Chadd 916]

I didn't want to start a new thread, but the officiating in tonights Leafs was beyond a joke. Fraser actually manipulated the outcome of this game. Took away a Leaf goal in the third, refused to make any calls against the Isles (first goal was off a blatant hold on Sundin behind the net), then gave a number of phantom calls to the Isles until they tied the game. At which point he allowed NYI to jump Sundin all night long in overtime until it was a SO.

I have never seen a game this poorly officiated.

I love the replay and the fact Fraser had no idea that the puck had gone in the net. DiPietro was even holding the stick of the Leaf player and not trying to get back into the net.

[cabreezy 0]

I was actually a biased fan for the Devils side, because naturally I'm from Long Island and an Islander fan. I was cheering for Parise and the Devs, but man, I watched the previous Dev-Rags game and Brodeur just annoyed me a little with that ridicuous backwards flop he had with Avery. Then I saw how he did it again on the Jagr chance. Jagr was going a bit too fast and just had his arm out there to prevent himself from falling forward into the post with his momentum, and Brodeur just made it look so much worse. If Jagr really put considerable force into Marty he should have fell backwards into the net, but thats not how Brodeur went to the ground. Just my opinion though.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I didn't want to start a new thread, but the officiating in tonights Leafs was beyond a joke. Fraser actually manipulated the outcome of this game. Took away a Leaf goal in the third, refused to make any calls against the Isles (first goal was off a blatant hold on Sundin behind the net), then gave a number of phantom calls to the Isles until they tied the game. At which point he allowed NYI to jump Sundin all night long in overtime until it was a SO.

I have never seen a game this poorly officiated.

I love the replay and the fact Fraser had no idea that the puck had gone in the net. DiPietro was even holding the stick of the Leaf player and not trying to get back into the net.

Did you have the pleasure of watching this joke, or are you just seeing the Replay? The actual game was simply incredible. Everytime Sundin was on the ice he was literally jumped on. I've never been this upset in my life over a Leafs game. This is simply unbelievable. He actually took the game away from them. He allowed them to do what they want until they scored.

[Chadd 916]

I didn't want to start a new thread, but the officiating in tonights Leafs was beyond a joke. Fraser actually manipulated the outcome of this game. Took away a Leaf goal in the third, refused to make any calls against the Isles (first goal was off a blatant hold on Sundin behind the net), then gave a number of phantom calls to the Isles until they tied the game. At which point he allowed NYI to jump Sundin all night long in overtime until it was a SO.

I have never seen a game this poorly officiated.

I love the replay and the fact Fraser had no idea that the puck had gone in the net. DiPietro was even holding the stick of the Leaf player and not trying to get back into the net.

Did you have the pleasure of watching this joke, or are you just seeing the Replay? The actual game was simply incredible. Everytime Sundin was on the ice he was literally jumped on. I've never been this upset in my life over a Leafs game. This is simply unbelievable. He actually took the game away from them. He allowed them to do what they want until they scored.

It was Hill and Witt, what else can they do to Sundin? I watched some of the game but only saw the replay of the no-goal. The center ice broadcast was the Islanders crew and they tried to justify the call but I'm not sure they actually believed what they were saying.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Apperantly Fraser applauded the Isles after the SO win. I've never seen Sundin that upset before. O'Neill just went off and the Score broadcasters just unloaded on Fraser for being "the show".

Oddly enough, like always, LeafsTV supports any decisions the NHL makes and feels the call was incorrect, but scramble to make it seem like there's a reason for it.

Of all things, even if he disallowed the goal, how is there no cross-checking penalty called? OT was incredible, Satan started skating to the box knowing that he had blatantly (while accidentally) tripped Sundin, but no call was made. The one on McCabe in the last 5-7 minutes of the game?

Funny thing is, MTL won their game due to a legit incidental contact case which was never called.

[Chadd 916]

Apperantly Fraser applauded the Isles after the SO win. I've never seen Sundin that upset before. O'Neill just went off and the Score broadcasters just unloaded on Fraser for being "the show".

Oddly enough, like always, LeafsTV supports any decisions the NHL makes and feels the call was incorrect, but scramble to make it seem like there's a reason for it.

Of all things, even if he disallowed the goal, how is there no cross-checking penalty called? OT was incredible, Satan started skating to the box knowing that he had blatantly (while accidentally) tripped Sundin, but no call was made. The one on McCabe in the last 5-7 minutes of the game?

Funny thing is, MTL won their game due to a legit incidental contact case which was never called.

Satan had two trips on that one shift in OT. There were some problems in the Calgary - Phoenix game too but that was Mick and you have to expect that to be a joke.

[kosydar 0]

The Leafs game was a joke. I still don't get how they can call off the Leaf's goal. If they're going to say that Poni interfered with DiPietro, call a damned penalty. OT was a joke, too. This game was terribly officiated.