The idea of a team being able to ban a ref from their games due to a “suspected” biased attitude towards them is so (frank)ing stupid.

Every team in the league would start whining about refs in any way they could to try to control who refs their games.

Team: he’s buddies with the guy who sharpens the skates for the opposition

League: oh well we better pick someone else then, how about this guy?

Away team: oh he openly critiqued one of our sponsors on Twitter

League: oh, better get another guy then

They guy is either an acceptable ref for 32 teams or 0 of them. That’s how it works folks.
- Dozzer

Sorry Dozzer you're wrong here. You're pulling some extreme examples and this is a specific case with some pretty (frank)ed up poop involved. It's not unheard of for this type of thing to happen.

However, the league agrees with you that this is how they want to play it. What myself and others believe is there was/is another option/road to take. However, I think the league just doesn't give a (frank) about these optics or anything.

I'm saying I have no (frank)ing clue. All I know for a fact with this group is a history of catastrophic failure.
- fifty__missions

I had a response I was going to write but you're honestly not even worth this one.

Sorry Dozzer you're wrong here. You're pulling some extreme examples and this is a specific case with some pretty (frank)ed up poop involved. It's not unheard of for this type of thing to happen.

However, the league agrees with you that this is how they want to play it. What myself and others believe is there was/is another option/road to take. However, I think the league just doesn't give a (frank) about these optics or anything.
- Aaron_85

The league runs things, the end.

Which means the way they want to do it is the only one that matters.

Large fanbase have a tendency of being emotional. The people on HB tend to be very passionate so you don't get a lot of "neutral" opinions, it's black or white depending on the situation. No different with the Habs really.
- Symba007

Oh sure. I'm a believer that sports should bring some emotions. I think it's funny that a lot of other fans of other teams think they don't do it too. People in glass houses is all...

The idea of a team being able to ban a ref from their games due to a “suspected” biased attitude towards them is so (frank)ing stupid.

Every team in the league would start whining about refs in any way they could to try to control who refs their games.

Team: he’s buddies with the guy who sharpens the skates for the opposition

League: oh well we better pick someone else then, how about this guy?

Away team: oh he openly critiqued one of our sponsors on Twitter

League: oh, better get another guy then

They guy is either an acceptable ref for 32 teams or 0 of them. That’s how it works folks.
- Dozzer

I don't know if you're being deliberate here, but no one is saying the LEAFS should do it or the league should do it for the Leafs.

What is being said is that the NHL should schedule his games away from the Leafs (edit: technically, not the Leafs - whatever team Keefe is coaching) specifically because there is a perceived conflict of interest. This can be done without impact to either the person, his reputation, or the team. It avoids all of this from coming up - because it would come up.

When the US Ref called those penalties against Canada in the Olympics against the US - didn't EVERYONE say that it was overt bias (and it was)? You have to avoid those types of conflicts, especially if you're going in for the billions in gambling revenue.

Large fanbase have a tendency of being emotional. The people on HB tend to be very passionate so you don't get a lot of "neutral" opinions, it's black or white depending on the situation. No different with the Habs really.
- Symba007

Specially large fanbases of a team with half a century of failures and collapses

Holl is giving a press conference right now. He has been promoted to 1D.


- PDO-Speedwagon

I think Bunting was expecting a battle for the puck in the corner but the puck went in a different direction than anticipated.
Cirnak was also hunched over when the hit occurred.


DOP is given Bunting 1 game for that legal hit
- dmnted

An elbow to the head is NEVER legal. Not sure how you can possibly think it was an ok hit.

all I know, is all the juggling wont work

TB in 4
- senstroll

I'm partial to playing the best players and Leafs in 5 or 6.

put bunting in net if he is not suspended
- senstroll

They should put him in net for practice today without a cup.

The league runs things, the end.

Which means the way they want to do it is the only one that matters.
- Dozzer

Correct. I agree with you. The league does it there way. It's totally legal and not crossing any of those lines.

However, people can argue that it shouldn't be or that there's precedence for another option should the league choose to go a different route.

My personal stance is, McCauley's friend did some evil poop to Keefe. Keefe, I'm trying to remember, accused Frost of this. I know one thing, is that people are rat bastards and if McCauley can "help" his friend out by making Keefe's career miserable who "ruined" Frost's then I wouldn't be shocked if it happened.

I've seen people use up their parents money while said parent is on the deathbed and then have to walk it back after said parent got better. People are poopty.

I hope you brought your boxing gloves
- UsernameUnknown

Me to Keefe

The league runs things, the end.

Which means the way they want to do it is the only one that matters.
- Dozzer

This is the worst kind of thinking. "The powers that be make the decisions, so just shut up and live with it."

Think of all the times in history humans lead with that mentality and the ensuing aftermath.

People aren't crybabies for wanting this sport to be better. Your reaction to peoples distaste for even potential corruption is telling of the kind of person you are, and I'll just leave it at that.

I'm partial to playing the best players and Leafs in 5 or 6.
- GreatGigInTheSky

I said Leafs in 6...so they have to lose 2 games for my prediction to be right. Still Beleafs

He obviously hates them?


He just has a history of being completely terrible in Habs games. He's so bad he stands out from the rest of the badness.
- Scabeh

He's been bad for the Bruins as well. He's just plain bad. Should not be a ref in the NHL (or any league actually...)

The idea of a team being able to ban a ref from their games due to a “suspected” biased attitude towards them is so (frank)ing stupid.

Every team in the league would start whining about refs in any way they could to try to control who refs their games.

Team: he’s buddies with the guy who sharpens the skates for the opposition

League: oh well we better pick someone else then, how about this guy?

Away team: oh he openly critiqued one of our sponsors on Twitter

League: oh, better get another guy then

They guy is either an acceptable ref for 32 teams or 0 of them. That’s how it works folks.
- Dozzer

Me to McCauley, then-

This is the worst kind of thinking. "The powers that be make the decisions, so just shut up and live with it."

Think of all the times in history humans lead with that mentality and the ensuing aftermath.

People aren't crybabies for wanting this sport to be better. Your reaction to peoples distaste for even potential corruption is telling of the kind of person you are, and I'll just leave it at that.
- UsernameUnknown

Dozzer has a point there. The league legit says "we do it this way and (frank) you all who think otherwise". Like the NHl clearly says "shut up and live with it" to fans ALL the time. He's not wrong there.

An elbow to the head is NEVER legal. Not sure how you can possibly think it was an ok hit.

- Nasty_Duck

It wasn't legal. I believe his intent had no malice - he was, I believe, battling for the puck and throwing the first hit in the mix, but he was both early, and inaccurate in his hit attempt, the elbow got up and Cernak was coming in and got hit.

It's an elbow / interference all day, and I'd be absolutely shocked if he doesn't get 1 game.

It wasn't legal. I believe his intent had no malice - he was, I believe, battling for the puck and throwing the first hit in the mix, but he was both early, and inaccurate in his hit attempt, the elbow got up and Cernak was coming in and got hit.

It's an elbow / interference all day, and I'd be absolutely shocked if he doesn't get 1 game.
- Monkeypunk

Sounds about right.

Dozzer has a point there. The league legit says "we do it this way and (frank) you all who think otherwise". Like the NHl clearly says "shut up and live with it" to fans ALL the time. He's not wrong there.
- Aaron_85

I didn't say it was inaccurate. I said it's shady as hell, and nobody should accept it.

Think of what VanVleet said about the bias officiating against him. And what happened after that?

Like I said, nobody should settle for a poopty and corrupt sport.

It wasn't legal. I believe his intent had no malice - he was, I believe, battling for the puck and throwing the first hit in the mix, but he was both early, and inaccurate in his hit attempt, the elbow got up and Cernak was coming in and got hit.

It's an elbow / interference all day, and I'd be absolutely shocked if he doesn't get 1 game.
- Monkeypunk

Leafs are already planning for that it seems with Knies on the 2nd line and Järnkrok on the 1st

I was prepared for a Lilly sighting but this guy using PK stats to make his point is pretty weaksauce.
- The Law

I've no clue about the other stuff, but I was just glad to see people actually pointing out how insanely bad he was.

or Keefe got fined because of the actions of Keefe
- drexel

*Ref fails miserably at his job*

Keefe calls him out on it; gets fined.

And he didn't even actually say anything to the media. He was fined for being flabbergasted on the bench about how bad it was.

If Samsonov has another though night in game 2, do we see Woll in tampa for game 3?

So boys. The writing is on the wall that 34 leaves if/when Leafs lose. From what I hear the window is still open to trade him before Canada Day. Should we, or risk another season of anxiety and watch him walk for bupkiss?