Paul Stewart: Coach's Challenge is Step in Wrong Direction

From what I have read about the proposed coaches challenge is that the review would take place at the rink with video monitors just like college hockey, not taking away the on-ice official's control of the game, but allowing them to make the right call. Coach Yeo would have used his to have the officials correctly call McLeod for pushing Dubnyk into the net a couple weeks ago.

Would adding a coach's challenge to the mix of the already convoluted rules for goals and non-goals involving potential goaltender interference result in any more clarity or authoritativeness of judgement simply by shifting the ruling responsibility to the Situation Room?

Yes. Having one person making judgement calls on certain plays every time gives consistency across games. And additional information (via replay) improves judgement calls, not harms them.

Video replay already exists. It happens on every single play by people watching the game online and TV with the ability to rewind. The question is whether the NHL starts using video replay to improve their product, or continues to let it make them look bad.

In the case you mentioned and in all close judgment decisions the blame would be taken away from the officials and put on the situation room. Fans and coaches complain that the refs made the wrong call but they wouldn't complain if upon the futher review from the situation room a certain call is made.

It seems to me the complaint here is officials whether they made the right call or not want their decision to stand. They don't like being embarrassed by calling a play only to find it overturned.

Nothing wrong with taking a couple minutes to get the call right. Several tv cameras and slow motion replay etc gives you a much better chance to make the right call then a ref on a split second decision. The only complaint I have as you said is there should be a penalty called for delay of game if doing a coach challenge. Losing a time out is no big deal.

Is there another pro sport that changes it's rules more then the NHL? Every year they huddle together to make rule changes. It's embarrassing really.

I remember when you went into a corner and if your stick was higher they your waist it was a penalty even if you didn't hit the other player. Now you can have it straight up in the air and that's ok, unless it makes contact with another player. I use to love hip checks, now it's called a penalty. Remember a few years ago if you had part of your stick in the crease it was no goal, now hey that's ok. Remember when if a goalie left his crease he was fair game, not now. The NHL makes a mockery of themselves by taking a good game and adding, subtracting new rules every year. The rule book must be the size of phone book when only two pages of it gets called.

I think we should bring back no two line pass. And also, goalies don't really need their masks.

Not sure i really understand why you think this is a step backwards - the only argument you've made that really argues its a bad move versus a lateral move is it 'dehumanizes' the game.

Put in robot refs for all i care if it means we get the call right - nobody is there to watch the refs, so while i 100% understand human error is a part of the game if they could remove the judgement calls and missed calls i'd be all for it.

Not sure i really understand why you think this is a step backwards - the only argument you've made that really argues its a bad move versus a lateral move is it 'dehumanizes' the game.

Put in robot refs for all i care if it means we get the call right - nobody is there to watch the refs, so while i 100% understand human error is a part of the game if they could remove the judgement calls and missed calls i'd be all for it.
- DirtyDozen

This is the same guy that want the official's personality's to be part of the game.

This is the same guy that want the official's personality's to be part of the game.
- Fountain-San

And argues AGAINST the use and analysis of referee statistics as a measuring stick for referee performance.

Give the coach the ability to go with a penalty shot over the 2 min PP. This would bring the most exciting play in hockey into the real game, not the gimmick called the SO.

Coach's challenge long overdue. Bottom line is to get call right...

And argues AGAINST the use and analysis of referee statistics as a measuring stick for referee performance.
- clutchgetspaid

where in Maine are you?

http://tvtechnology.com/s...hls-situation-room/274582

pretty sure the idea to not have on ice official's involved is due to the fact that the "situation room" actually starts the review process when on ice officials miss the call.

Is there another pro sport that changes it's rules more then the NHL? Every year they huddle together to make rule changes. It's embarrassing really.

I remember when you went into a corner and if your stick was higher they your waist it was a penalty even if you didn't hit the other player. Now you can have it straight up in the air and that's ok, unless it makes contact with another player. I use to love hip checks, now it's called a penalty. Remember a few years ago if you had part of your stick in the crease it was no goal, now hey that's ok. Remember when if a goalie left his crease he was fair game, not now. The NHL makes a mockery of themselves by taking a good game and adding, subtracting new rules every year. The rule book must be the size of phone book when only two pages of it gets called.
- sparky

The NFL is the biggest pro sports league around and they make rule changes every single year.

For some reason, hockey fans just seem to be resistant to change, even though the changes over the past 10 years have drastically improved the game.

The NFL is the biggest pro sports league around and they make rule changes every single year.

For some reason, hockey fans just seem to be resistant to change, even though the changes over the past 10 years have drastically improved the game.
- jtommyt

i agree with this.

I'm all for a coaches challenge. NHL coaches and the guys they have up stairs are very knowledgeable.