That is 100% not true. Conflict of interest is real; if the conflict of interest affects someone's ability to work or receive equitable opportunity then their union can issue formal objections and even sue - if the conflict of interest is something they feel is insufficient. But there are 30 teams in the league - providing equitable opportunities that keep him from officiating 82 games in a season wouldn't be difficult.

The only potential impact to MacCauley would be if the Leafs made the Cup Finals - and we all know that's not happening.

The union can't give carte blanche rights to anyone.
- Monkeypunk

That’s only feeling based not agreement based.

If the ref had a provable conflict of interest against a team he wouldn’t have a job. Therefore this is nothing more than the pointing of a finger and whining about it.

For sure ..I haven't said otherwise. Our PK'ers and Sammy have got to get their poop together. That was terrible. And TB's PP has been poop the last few months. No excuses.
- The Law

Our PK worried me down the stretch but then only allowed 1 goal in like, the last 10 games of the season or something, and I finally felt good with it.

That confidence is gone for the remainder of the playoffs

Too bad adjusting an innocent person’s life due to another’s guilt is against the law.

The NHL cannot have a modification in the agreement with the NHLOA that would be legal or that the NHLOA would even agree with, end of story.
- Dozzer

Ok. But none of that is true.

The NHL controls assignments so there's no adjusting needed. Nobody is 'guilty' - Frost was acquitted ..it's about perceived conflict and decisions are made all the time but industry, government, etc. ....and it's definitely not illegal to make those decisions. New chapter ..or perhaps an addendum to your finished book?

That’s only feeling based not agreement based.

If the ref had a provable conflict of interest against a team he wouldn’t have a job. Therefore this is nothing more than the pointing of a finger and whining about it.
- Dozzer

Man you are naïve.

Leaf whiners are so adorable.

No wonder so many people make fun of this fanbase.

The leafs played the majority of the game like poop last night and that’s why they lost. Keep pointing your fingers like cry babies tho, it’s truly cute.

Ya that is crazy.
He was lucky, that could have been so bad
- Fakepartofme

75 stitches is definitely so bad. Not sure what comes after so bad but it can't be good and it very much could have been that.

Leaf whiners are so adorable.

No wonder so many people make fun of this fanbase.

The leafs played the majority of the game like poop last night and that’s why they lost. Keep pointing your fingers like cry babies tho, it’s truly cute.
- Dozzer

No one is pointing fingers

The Leafs can play bad and the refs can be bad

Stop whining about people criticizing players or officials that aren't leafs

Let people be and stop letting it effect you so much

That’s only feeling based not agreement based.

If the ref had a provable conflict of interest against a team he wouldn’t have a job. Therefore this is nothing more than the pointing of a finger and whining about it.
- Dozzer

The point made by The Law, and by many others, is that if you have a perceived case of Conflict of Interest (which this definitely is perceived as), you can very easily solve it with no detrimental impact to either party, simply by observing it and reacting appropriately. MacCauley continues to get 74-75 games/year, just none are with Toronto while Keefe is the coach. Who knows? Maybe that's only 3 more games! But the point is that most major organizations go out of their way to avoid the perception of impropriety or bias.

That’s only feeling based not agreement based.

If the ref had a provable conflict of interest against a team he wouldn’t have a job. Therefore this is nothing more than the pointing of a finger and whining about it.
- Dozzer

Sorry Dozz you are way wrong on this. Conflicts of interest aren't written into agreements, there certainly usually is language in agreements that says they must be disclosed & that appropriate actions will be taken but you can't possibly identify them all and have them all documented in agreements.

A ref wouldn't be fired because of this situation, it's out of his control but to have him not officiate games vs that team is 100% a reasonable action to be taken with respect to the real OR PERCEIVED conflict of interest. There is generally no requirement to prove it when it comes to conflicts of interest - reasonable perception that the conflict MAY exist is enough usually.

Or at least it should be but the NHL is going to do what it wants and nobody dare question it.

So Max was right?

Ffs

You can be let go for substandard performance as an NHL ref. Therefore if the leafs had a provable argument about him being biased I’m sure they’d be making it.

I’m done debating against this stupid point of view.

Saw this and literally laughed out loud. Without researching it (Because I'm lazy today and tired) does anyone recall or know of any other team in recent history getting this many playoff suspensions in such as short period of time. Seems like the bubble playoff were the only times the Leafs haven't had a guy suspended which in itself is odd.

Sorry Dozz you are way wrong on this. Conflicts of interest aren't written into agreements, there certainly usually is language in agreements that says they must be disclosed & that appropriate actions will be taken but you can't possibly identify them all and have them all documented in agreements.

A ref wouldn't be fired because of this situation, it's out of his control but to have him not officiate games vs that team is 100% a reasonable action to be taken with respect to the real OR PERCEIVED conflict of interest. There is generally no requirement to prove it when it comes to conflicts of interest - reasonable perception that the conflict MAY exist is enough usually.

Or at least it should be but the NHL is going to do what it wants and nobody dare question it.
- Cush29

Can confirm.

Had to give up the bank account my mom opened up for me when I was about 8 years old, because my wife took a new job.

I'm still weirdly pissed about this.

That’s only feeling based not agreement based.

If the ref had a provable conflict of interest against a team he wouldn’t have a job. Therefore this is nothing more than the pointing of a finger and whining about it.
- Dozzer

No Dozzer, perceived conflict of interest is a very very common issue in all sorts of industry ..including sports. Officials are often selected in sports (football, soccer, olympics, etc... ) with consideration given to 'perceived bias'. That doesn't mean that they are biased ...the concept simply means that it's important for fans (in particular) to have as little concern as possible about the potential for bias.

Judges, officials, etc.. in many industries recuse themselves because they might have some tiny connection or thread of interest with someone and it's better that someone else make decisions so that all conflict of interest (perceived or real) is removed.

My point was not that MacCauley did anything wrong ...just that the perceived conflict is enough that he shouldn't be doing Keefe games. Why run the risk of creating the perception ...there are dozens of qualified officials ..shuffle the deck.

Can confirm.

Had to give up the bank account my mom opened up for me when I was about 8 years old, because my wife took a new job.

I'm still weirdly pissed about this.
- Atomic Wedgie

That's a weird one! I'm not sure I understand that, sounds like an employer who was uber over the top about not having any possible perception of a conflict of interest - like too over the top and unreasonable.

Leaf whiners are so adorable.

No wonder so many people make fun of this fanbase.

The leafs played the majority of the game like poop last night and that’s why they lost. Keep pointing your fingers like cry babies tho, it’s truly cute.
- Dozzer

Bunting and Kadri would each get a month for this.

No Dozzer, perceived conflict of interest is a very very common issue in all sorts of industry ..including sports. Officials are often selected in sports (football, soccer, olympics, etc... ) with consideration given to 'perceived bias'. That doesn't mean that they are biased ...the concept simply means that it's important for fans (in particular) to have as little concern as possible about the potential for bias.

Judges, officials, etc.. in many industries recuse themselves because they might have some tiny connection or thread of interest with someone and it's better that someone else make decisions so that all conflict of interest (perceived or real) is removed.

My point was not that MacCauley did anything wrong ...just that the perceived conflict is enough that he shouldn't be doing Keefe games. Why run the risk of creating the perception ...there are dozens of qualified officials ..shuffle the deck.
- The Law

In 99% of sports, you won't ref against your own country.

Hockey seems to be a rare exception.

Remember the US ref for the women's gold medal game that one year?

Oh Gawd, that was awful.

Ffs

You can be let go for substandard performance as an NHL ref. Therefore if the leafs had a provable argument about him being biased I’m sure they’d be making it.

I’m done debating against this stupid point of view.
- Dozzer

Why do you think it's appropriate conduct in your position to take these oddball positions vs the entire herd and start referring to the entire fanbase as things like crybabies and stupid, accuse everyone of whining, etc.

It's the exact type of conduct which is inflammatory from the average poster and typically results in the entire place exploding.

If you can't help but allow your opinions on a subject to aggravate your emotions to the point you begin throwing these barbs at everyone else like the average troll, why even keep the position?

And ....perceived bias has become even more important to avoid, where possible, now that the world of sports gambling is so influential.

That's a weird one! I'm not sure I understand that, sounds like an employer who was uber over the top about not having any possible perception of a conflict of interest - like too over the top and unreasonable.
- Cush29

Wife works for a consulting company that does the audit for the bank in question (my wife has absolutely no connection to the audit arm of the company).

So yeah, even though there's absolutely no way it could ever be used nefariously, the firm forbids all employees and their immediate families from banking there.

And the funny thing is I went into the bank to close my account, and from their reaction, this was not an uncommon thing.

And ....perceived bias has become even more important to avoid, where possible, now that the world of sports gambling is so influential.
- The Law

Excellent point.

In 99% of sports, you won't ref against your own country.

Hockey seems to be a rare exception.

Remember the US ref for the women's gold medal game that one year?

Oh Gawd, that was awful.
- Atomic Wedgie

Salt Lake City ....ya, and rightly or wrongly (rightly in that instance) the only narrative that was created was that the officials were biased and the ice was tilted.

Makes no sense to make a decision like that when there are so many other options.

Kristen Shilton
@kristen_shilton

#Leafs mixing up the lines at practice after Game 1 loss:

Jarnkrok - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - O’Reilly - Acciari
Aston-Reese- Kampf - Lafferty
Simmonds

McCabe - Brodie
Giordano - Holl
Rielly - Schenn
Gustafsson - Liljegren

Samsonov
Woll

Kristen Shilton
@kristen_shilton

#Leafs mixing up the lines at practice after Game 1 loss:

Jarnkrok - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - O’Reilly - Acciari
Aston-Reese- Kampf - Lafferty
Simmonds

McCabe - Brodie
Giordano - Holl
Rielly - Schenn
Gustafsson - Liljegren

Samsonov
Woll
- Atomic Wedgie

Simmonds getting annoyingly close to playing