Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

To Err is Human.... for Everyone in Hockey

May 3, 2016, 6:37 AM ET [4 Comments]
Paul Stewart
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22

Here's the thing about hockey scouts. I've sat three feet away from them for years, and watched what they do. I've realized that there's a huge gap between the ones who excel and the significant population of so-so ones.

There some truly great ones who are worth their weight in gold to an organization. There are also a lot of mediocre ones -- nice enough guys, but not very hard working on game nights -- who think they've done their job simply by keeping to their travel schedule.

They show their faces, drink some free coffee, jot down a few notes and leave before the third period to get a jump on the traffic. I sit and watch these scouts and wonder what they see in players: some clearly good ones they totally miss and these people end up not playing or playing elsewhere, and some they bet on and these are ones that shouldn't play. Others keep getting chance after chance and finally they get bought out of expensive contracts.

I raise this point not to rail on scouts -- again, there are some excellent ones out there, and you can usually tell by their franchise's track record in identifying who can play and who can't. I raise it because even the very best scout have their share of "misses" along the way. We know that and we accept that; even the occasional "big miss."

All officials miss calls from time to time, too. Accept that. It is no different than the coach that coaches the player who just turned the puck over under no pressure or let in the bad goal. It's no different the GM that signs the free agent bust to a big contract or to the scout that pushed to draft or sign the same player.

I had to laugh at a reader's suggestion yesterday that we remove referees from the ice and have the game officiated from the sidelines. Good luck with that one.

*********

Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.

Today, Stewart serves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.

The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials. Stewart also maintains a busy schedule as a public speaker, fund raiser and master-of-ceremonies for a host of private, corporate and public events. As a non-hockey venture, he is the owner of Lest We Forget.
Join the Discussion: » 4 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Paul Stewart
» A Remedy for Offside Reviews
» Touching Greatness
» Bill Friday Fondly Remembered
» The Stew: Playoff Magic, The Buck Stops Where, Supervisors, & More
» The Stew: Positioning, Evaluating, True Purpose and More