They're passively deciding the game but that's not as flashy as actualy doing their jobs.
What drives me crazy is that they have the technology to do this properly. Spend 5 seconds reviewing every call, review every goal, have cameras covering the entire rink to catch the **** behind the play and give coaches x number of calls for review, etc. Maybe it's extreme but they have no excuse for so much going unchecked.
Put the fear of god in them about dirty plays, ffs. The players and teams would learn.
I am fine with them wanting to avoid replay. I would allow a challenge or two or whatever, but I don't think every call should be reviewed. But they need to hold them more responsible for the quality of their reffing. Review the games. See how much the refs are missing and how many calls they get wrong. Find refs that miss as few and get as few wrong as possible.
As for things like the heavy slashes or punches or whatnot, up the punishment for those. Review games for this stuff and start giving out suspensions for cheap shots. A slash with the puck in a guys feet is one thing, but when the puck isn't even near the guy you're slashing that **** shouldn't be tolerated.
Oh, and get the refs to stop conversing with the players. Talk to the captains about game things and give guys warnings or whatnot, but otherwise nobody talk to the refs. The refs need to get themselves above the game, not dig themselves down into it by joining the trash talk.
Between those few things, I think the quality of product the NHL can put out would drastically increase.