NHL Jack Todd: NHL needs to put control of the game back in referees' hands

Fenway

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Sep 26, 2007
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Montreal columnist is dead on

Jack Todd: NHL needs to put control of the game back in referees' hands

Give the referees the power they once had to officiate the game. There was a time, before the two-referee system and that utterly inept war room in Toronto, when a single referee ran the game he officiated. There were mistakes but on balance, it worked — just as soccer somehow gets by with a single ref who has to keep an eye on a vast pitch and 22 players.

If we’re going to keep replay reviews (and I’m afraid no league will have the guts to ban the whole thing) the war room should have only one purpose — to back up the on-ice officials and to give them the support they need. When the referee wants a certain angle, the war room provides it. The technocrats can weigh in with an opinion but the ultimate decision rests with the referee.

There is one simple goal: to get it right. The senior referee is in charge, with help from the junior referee and the linesmen. If he feels that he needs to look at what may have been a hand pass to a teammate, he skates to the sideline and reviews the play. The war room is there only to provide him with every possible angle.

Here’s the key: If you’re going to have replay review at all, then any play is reviewable IF the head referee decides to review it. No need to spell out what can or cannot be reviewed — if the referee thinks a penalty or a disallowed goal or a hand pass deserves a review, he has the power to review it, period. No more falling back on the excuse that the play can’t be reviewed.

The NHL, as we have seen, can’t provide for every contingency in the rule book, so we have the absurd situation in which a goal can be waved off if an onrushing forward was a millimetre offside — but the ref can’t take a second look at a hand pass to a teammate that proved to be decisive. The excuse is always the same: league officials shrug, say the play isn’t reviewable and that’s it. Case closed.

The only solution is to put control of the game back in the hands of the league’s referees. They’re on the ice, their butts are on the line.

Then put a gag order on the shabby second-guessing from the head office. After all, they’re the ones who created an unworkable system in the first place.
 

Spooner st

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Jan 14, 2007
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That's what I suggested, everything should be reviewable.
Get the calls right.
And disciplinary players safety (Dops) should be a Third Party.
End of story.
 
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PaulD

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Feb 4, 2016
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Montreal columnist is dead on

Jack Todd: NHL needs to put control of the game back in referees' hands

Give the referees the power they once had to officiate the game. There was a time, before the two-referee system and that utterly inept war room in Toronto, when a single referee ran the game he officiated. There were mistakes but on balance, it worked — just as soccer somehow gets by with a single ref who has to keep an eye on a vast pitch and 22 players.

If we’re going to keep replay reviews (and I’m afraid no league will have the guts to ban the whole thing) the war room should have only one purpose — to back up the on-ice officials and to give them the support they need. When the referee wants a certain angle, the war room provides it. The technocrats can weigh in with an opinion but the ultimate decision rests with the referee.

There is one simple goal: to get it right. The senior referee is in charge, with help from the junior referee and the linesmen. If he feels that he needs to look at what may have been a hand pass to a teammate, he skates to the sideline and reviews the play. The war room is there only to provide him with every possible angle.

Here’s the key: If you’re going to have replay review at all, then any play is reviewable IF the head referee decides to review it. No need to spell out what can or cannot be reviewed — if the referee thinks a penalty or a disallowed goal or a hand pass deserves a review, he has the power to review it, period. No more falling back on the excuse that the play can’t be reviewed.

The NHL, as we have seen, can’t provide for every contingency in the rule book, so we have the absurd situation in which a goal can be waved off if an onrushing forward was a millimetre offside — but the ref can’t take a second look at a hand pass to a teammate that proved to be decisive. The excuse is always the same: league officials shrug, say the play isn’t reviewable and that’s it. Case closed.

The only solution is to put control of the game back in the hands of the league’s referees. They’re on the ice, their butts are on the line.

Then put a gag order on the shabby second-guessing from the head office. After all, they’re the ones who created an unworkable system in the first place.

The NHL needs to address the rules about video review rules. Definitely. The way it is now is ruining games.

But I dont care what Jack Todd has to say about Jack Shit.
 

Braunbaer

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May 21, 2012
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Just give each team a universal challenge (or maybe 2), i.e. they're allowed to challenge everything.
If they're right, they keep the challenge. If not, they lose it.
 

Spooner st

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Jan 14, 2007
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then prepare for 3.5 hr games as we`ll have coaches calling for a review over everything
No the refs can review everything if needed in order to make right calls.
As he gets to review it, every angle of the play should be available, it's just a matter of looking at it and make de decision. No Toronto decision needed just provide video clips of play.
 

ODAAT

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Oct 17, 2006
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Victoria BC
No the refs can review everything if needed in order to make right calls.
As he gets to review it, every angle of the play should be available, it's just a matter of looking at it and make de decision. No Toronto decision needed just provide video clips of play.
but we have that now with many plays and it`s nauseating how long a call takes to be made
 

KnightofBoston

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Mar 22, 2010
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Definitely all for taking away decision making from the war room in Toronto

I trust an old ford barreling down an icy road more than those folks

But not making everything reviewable

Just scoring plays and major penalties

Should be easy peasy

Oh also, make the blue line a lot thinner
 

Spooner st

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Jan 14, 2007
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8,100
There's a way the NHL can fix this.
By appointing the referee to make final calls.
Any call in doubt can be done. Just to make sure the right call is made.

In Toronto or whatever, they gather the multi angle clips and send it to the referees. So it can help him make the right call.
If it's done efficiently it will take less time than what it takes now.

If the goal is also to reduce game time... there's plenty of screwing around that can be cut down.

Hopefully the league will do what's right for the game and for all those involved.
 

Judge Smails

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Jan 20, 2004
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Montreal columnist is dead on

Jack Todd: NHL needs to put control of the game back in referees' hands

Give the referees the power they once had to officiate the game. There was a time, before the two-referee system and that utterly inept war room in Toronto, when a single referee ran the game he officiated. There were mistakes but on balance, it worked — just as soccer somehow gets by with a single ref who has to keep an eye on a vast pitch and 22 players.

This is a little disingenuous. Soccer refs have two assistant refs on each sideline watching for fouls and a fourth official at the center line - all connected with headsets and in constant communication. They also have VAR in just about every league now.
 

Braunbaer

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May 21, 2012
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Penalties too? Just want to get clarification there.

Yes, just like that article says I'd also give them the right to challenge anything.
Imagine they play for 3 minutes and there are several questionable calls ... you'd have to review all of them in extreme cases.
But if there's "only" an option to challenge, they have to tell you right away which play exactly they want to review.
 

Therick67

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Apr 6, 2009
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South of Boston
Simply have an off ice official with the ability to assist the ref on obvious calls. Hey, that was a hand pass - no goal. Hey, the puck hit the netting - no goal.

Put a 45 second limit on reviews, if you can't tell in that time - original call stands.
 
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HockeyMomx2

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Simply have an off ice official with the ability to assist the ref on obvious calls. Hey, that was a hand pass - no goal. Hey, the puck hit the netting - no goal.

Put a 45 second limit on reviews, if you can't tell in that time - original call stands.
or as I think someone mentioned awhile ago - simply put the alternate referee to work instead of sitting around doing nothing. They could do this with zero added cost.
 

CharasLazyWrister

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Sep 8, 2008
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Northborough, MA
Yes, just like that article says I'd also give them the right to challenge anything.
Imagine they play for 3 minutes and there are several questionable calls ... you'd have to review all of them in extreme cases.
But if there's "only" an option to challenge, they have to tell you right away which play exactly they want to review.

Other than on puck out of play, this would just make people more angry.
 

Spanky185

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Dec 1, 2014
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Between BOS and NYC
International Cricket has the perfect review system imo. It allows for challenges but also for the umpire to immediately call for the Ump in the Sky to review an out, without making a call on the field himself.

SC top 10 actually had a play from a cricket match the other night, and you can see the umpire, instead of making a call either way, signal for it to be reviewed. This isn't a rare occurrence either.
 

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