Friedman: Crossbar goal-line cameras may be installed for playoffs

[Isikiz]

3. The league is not as bullish as it once was on cameras in the goal posts. Too much is obstructed. It is, however, more confident in them inside the crossbar, looking down. Those are being worked on for all playoff games. Same goes for cameras along the blue line. The plan is to install them in the 16 arenas that will host post-season games. On the penalty box side, they will be set along the surface. The players’ bench is trickier, so the mount will be above the ice.

According to Elliotte Friedman.

I didn't see this posted earlier and thought it could be interesting to discuss. I'm a little surprised that it took so long to implement these cameras, especially after many controversial goals (2004?).

[codynw]

Better late than never, I guess. Hopefully this helps.

[MarkGio]

Yeah, casinos haven't missed a beat for years, so the technology has been there to replace refs for a long time. I think the NHL likes having the refs there to manage the games.

[Coach]

The future is here! 10 years ago.

[btimbit]

Amazing how this only only being done now

[mrkajz44]

I'm not sure more cameras always make things better.

Offsides - who really cares in my opinion. If it's so close you need an instant replay, then the player didn't get some massive advantage on the entry into the zone.

Goals - more cameras could help, but they can still cling to "inconclusive, so the call on the ice stands" crap. It will only get better when the people doing the video review do not know the call on the ice, and therefore can provide an objective view of the play and what happened.

[ZedMan]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Yeah, casinos haven't missed a beat for years, so the technology has been there to replace refs for a long time. I think the NHL likes having the refs there to manage the games.

How could Casino security systems replace refs? Casinos don't have to make decisions in real time, have no limitations on where cameras are placed, and even after all that decisions are still made by a person in the end.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Obviously waited until Calgary's playoff hopes were gone before announcing this.

[Toonage]

They should have a cameraman sit on top of the nets.

[Travis Munroe]

Cross bar makes so much less sense to me.... 9 times out of 10 it will be obstructed by the goalie.

[Isikiz]

I wonder if the NHL ever considered thinning the goal line. I feel that would make goals much more definitive.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

Cross bar makes so much less sense to me.... 9 times out of 10 it will be obstructed by the goalie.

Would be obstructed by the goalie pretty much exactly the same amount of times as post-cameras would.

(and it would be way less than 90% - probably more like 10%)

Also, they're not saying the crossbar cameras will be the only cameras, they are another camera. How is that bad?

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by Isikiz

I wonder if the NHL ever considered thinning the goal line. I feel that would make goals much more definitive.

That wouldn't accomplish anything.

[Cole436]

Put two wide angle lens (aka a standard GoPro) on the thirds of the length of the crossbar.
Suddenly you have two cameras in the net that can see down, are out of the direct line of the goaltender and will grab his visibility from both sides of the net.

It seems like a really simple fix. The only thing they have to worry about will be how to integrate them into the net so that the bar stays flush and if they're hit they won't shatter.

[heep223]

Just tape a GoPro to the puck. Boom.

[Toonage]

GoPuck.

The marketing writes itself.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

If there ends up being a camera just inside the crossbar, you can bet that Gaudreau will hit it at least once a game and we'll have an incident like last night.

[FiveSeven]

I won't be happy till there's no less than 50 cameras inside the net.

[smalltownref]

I am still waiting for the day they put a tracking chip in the middle of the puck so the NHL can determine where the puck is at all times. Add in some sensors that identify where the goal line is on the ice (both on ice level and in the air), and soon the NHL will have the ability to figure out if the puck did actually cross the goal line completely or not, regardless if they can see the puck on camera or not.

[OutOfTheCube]

Oh great, so we'll have even more goals called back because a guy was a half inch offside fifteen seconds before it went in.

It's funny that they harp on and on about wanting more goals and increasing offense, yet brought in that absurd challenge rule.