Quote:
Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan
How about this as an alternate hypothesis to the "refs aren't calling the rulebook" hypothesis?
"Teams learned how to play a slightly more disciplined game and avoided taking as many penalties"
Revolutionary stuff, I know.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inferno
And his bull#### grab and tuck the stick under his armpit making it look like he's getting hooked move that the refs constantly fall for.
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I think both of these things have factored in. Players have figured out what they can and can't do when defending against McDavid. He is a very fast and skilled player, but not completely unpredictable.
But I also think the officials were getting tired of being duped into calling penalties only to have it pointed out after that there was clear embellishment or outright fabrication (i.e. McDavid grabbing sticks or flopping after incidental contact that sometimes even he initiated). It's the classic boy who cried wolf.
I can't imagine the league overall would think it's a good look to have their poster boy sitting in the penalty box all the time either. So even if McDavid losing the benefit of doubt means that once in a while someone does get away with something that should be a penalty, the Oilers should be thanking their lucky stars that he also seems immune to taking embellishment penalties as much as he should. It more than evens out in their favour.