Quote:
Originally Posted by JetsFlamesFan
All it comes down to is: what is a penalty? If it's defined, then why is it a penalty now but not later? I don't think the time of game should come into play. But since it does, it's frustrating when it is only on one side. And it looks VERY bad on the refs to miss the exact same calls they made mere seconds earlier, I don't even think it's arguable. A penalty is a penalty and the refs get way too much leeway, to get away with so blatantly missing the exact same call you called 30 seconds ago. How many officials are there on the ice? Are they not bound to a book of rules? Or can they just make up whatever rules they want on the fly? Too many judgement calls, should be by the book. Not like it's ever gonna change, though.
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Calls will be missed. There can be no "call it by the book" really, because the book calls for discretion in every case. People aren't going to want to hear this, but this is the best the reffing has ever been.
Trouble is, we have waaaaay better access to video and better quality picture than ever before. Every ref is making a hundred or even probably a lot more judgement calls in real time every game. A hundred percent isn't reasonable. It's just not going to get better. Then you add in the subjective nature of the job. A hook is not the same to everyone either, for example. Did he impede forward progress? Maybe three people have three different opinions. Add to that that the ref doesn't have an overhead view like we do. Watch that ref cam video and you'll see just how fast the calls news to be made. It's tough.
The NHL refs are there because they were the best at every level. There isn't some better refs out there. Part of the intrigue of sport is the mini controversy in each game. The same reason we don't see a computer calling balls and strikes in baseball.
/ref rant