Dennis Bonvie
Registered User
It would be great if the refs were held accountable after games and made to answer questions from the media. I think we would then be able to hear the logic (however faulty) and see the defense mechanisms from officials in why they are so "poor" at their jobs. They are not involved in calling a fair game. What they do in the playoffs is pure and simple game management. Yes, they to some degree are incompetent, however they are not so incompetent that they are failing to see clear penalty after clear penalty on one team and ignoring them, then calling the first soft penalty they can on the other team. That's not incompetence at all, that's game management. Some degree of transparency and accountability would be nice. I know it won't happen because the league loves its "parity," and knows it's bad for business to have too many blowouts and dominant teams. The refs are a useful tool. The cool thing, though, is it all works. The fans for the most part are entertained and keep coming back for more, the league makes money, the players are well compensated, and most people complain a little but move on past the shenanigans. The circus lives to see another year and remains the greatest show on earth. Perhaps there's nothing wrong with any of that. Ignorance is bliss.
I think you are way off base.
Refs became "poor at their job" as soon as instant replay was created. No one can call an NHL game without missing numerous infractions. Calls are much easier to make after seeing a replay. Yet if their is a reviewable call and you can access both broadcasts of the game (Center Ice), frequently there is a completely different opinion of the same play. Its just a terribly difficult game to officiate.