Paul Stewart: Toughness, Intelligence & Humanity

Paul, I like a lot of your opinions, but I can't say I totally agree with this one.

Refs are human, absolutely. But players and even coaches are hired because of their skill and even sometimes their personality. It is these things that make them valuable to a team and valuable to market.

Refs, however, are there to enforce rules. In my opinion, there should be as little "personality" involved as possible. I agree the refs have a hard job of enforcing some rules that are ambiguous and that's not their fault. But, that is why I do favor more oversight and frankly support making the right call regardless of how long it takes.

In short, I disagree with you and favor greater oversight and communication that results in getting the right call over the "personality" of the game which allows for wrong calls.

Hockey on speed alone may be the toughest game to officiate. 2 words have always worked for me "Advantage Gained". The beauty of officiating hockey is you can take a second and ask was their an advantage gained? Replay for things like the goal in the Isles/Canucks game last night is a good thing. However if the game gets carried away it will become basketball, constant replays, 30 minutes to play the last 3, the beauty of the game is the speed and lack of out of bounds. Flow matters and officials need to keep that going, an official with personality only helps the game. A solid personality the ability to relate situations and reasons to players and coaches breeds respect, which can only help the game. Robots or the human equivalent cannot do that. Robotic officials using letter of the law calls and over reliance on electronic review as opposed to quality officiating can and will hurt the game we love.