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Originally Posted by Joborule
The only recent act of this that I can recall is the Sharks/Knights Game 7 this past playoffs, where a major penalty was called for something that arguably wasn't even a penalty at all, and the Sharks in the final minutes were able to pull off a several goal comeback, and then ultimately win the game and the series. That was a mistake the NHL couldn't hide from, and changed the rules where major penalties have to be reviewed before enforcing them.
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I don't think this counts as blaming the refs for making a mistake. When bad calls or missed calls lead to rule changes, it's essentially the league saying "well, it's not the referees' fault; they didn't have the benefit of X! But don't worry, now that we've added X, they'll have all the tools they need!"
... And then the tools just make things worse.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zulu29
I sure enjoy the reffing in the world juniors. Your team just took a 5 minute penalty and you slash someone? Guess what, you get another 2 min. Call the rules by the book and enough with this game management bs.
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This has been my pitch for a while. Unfortunately, if this were to actually happen, teams and fans would complain ("that was a weak penalty call! you're going to make THAT call with 2 minutes left in a tied game?! Stop trying to decide the game, refs! Let the players decide!"), there would be media debates about why we're "changing the game" to make it all about power plays and drawing penalties, and the owners would demand it go back immediately. Remember the post-lockout year in 05-06 when penalties spiked? That didn't last long and all they were doing was calling more hooking penalties.
I'm still for it though, because #### those fans and #### those players and #### those teams. The rule book is the rule book. Don't complain about a soft call in the last two minutes, just keep your stick on the ice. Stop trying to cheat on the faceoff - if your first guy gets tossed and your second guy tries to cheat too, we're actually calling those now.
The problem is that this will lead to a lot more diving, unless something is done there. So there will be an entire department devoted to guys selling calls, who will review every penalty called and determine whether they believe it involved an embellishment. First time they catch you, you get a phone call. After that, it is publicly announced that you have a hearing for being a diver, and suspensions and fines will be handed out on the "repeat offender" basis. That, combined with the public shame of being labelled a cheater, should help keep the issue under control. All suspensions will be the same in the regular season as in the playoffs - if you were getting five games for it in November, you're getting 5 games for it in April. Also, we'll keep video review, include all penalties in it if you think they were embellished or a blown call, and if you ask to review a penalty and it's still a penalty, you're giving the other guys a two man advantage. The blue line extends to the ceiling so we no longer have to worry about whether there's a foot on the line or not. And there will be a full overhaul of the rules by commission that takes six full months to do it, from March to September, starting at the front of the rule book and going to the back to alter strange wording and calls that no longer fit the game (i.e. the current rule book actually says goalies get a delay of game for freezing the puck after a glove save, and there's a penalty in there for swearing). The trapezoid is removed. Players must have full possession of the puck after the red line to avoid an icing - no more tipping in a long breakout pass from your d-man.
And finally, if you get in the way of a player going after the puck he just dumped in in order to slow him down, you are getting an interference penalty because
that's obviously ####ing interference why is this almost never called.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
The league should be fining officials when they make obvious errors.
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Yes - I would first pay the refs double what they're making now. I would then publicly fine, suspend, and remove them from playoff action for screwing up. If the league stands by a call, it must explain why, including a statement from the referee. If the league determines a call was wrong, we still get a statement from the referee explaining what he saw and why he made that call. You have a significant amount of control over the game, you are important to our product and will be paid accordingly. But if you #### up, you are going to be held accountable.
And if it is determined that you are the sort of ref who gives out "even up" calls, you will simply be fired. That is a plague on the league.