Talk of a major change to NHL officiating rules sparks after Cole Caufield controversy
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Renaud Lavoie reports the NHL wants officials to have video replay access after a Cole Caufield penalty set up Minnesota's overtime winner over Montreal.
The Montreal Canadiens lost 2-1 in overtime to the Minnesota Wild after Cole Caufield was penalized, and Kirill Kaprizov scored the winner on the power play.
Martin St-Louis was not happy with the call, believing Quinn Hughes exaggerated the contact.
Now the debate has moved from one whistle to a bigger question: should referees be able to look at video themselves?
Renaud Lavoie reports that the NHL wants to give its officials access to video replays to help them make better calls, and he says the sooner that happens, the better.
That is a report of the league's intentions, not a confirmed rule change.
"The NHL wants to give its officials access to video replays to help them make better calls. The sooner that happens, the better."
- Renaud Lavoie
- Renaud Lavoie
What officials can and cannot review now
Right now, goal reviews are largely run through the NHL Situation Room in Toronto, and coach's challenges cover only certain goal-related plays.
Referees do review major and match penalties on the ice, but most penalty calls are judgment made in real time with no replay behind them.
That is the gap Lavoie's idea would close.
Challenges and a skeptical view
Stu Cowan backs the concept but would go further and let teams challenge certain penalties, an idea that traces back to Ken Potter, who floated one or two challenges per game for clearly missed calls.
The two proposals differ: Lavoie's would have referees check their own work, while Cowan's would hand the trigger to coaches.
Cowan is doubtful the league will go for it, suggesting it would embarrass referees whom Gary Bettman insists are the best in any sport.
There are real trade-offs. More replay means longer stoppages, and a league built on speed has been wary of that.
Still, a questionable call deciding an overtime game keeps the pressure on.
Montreal heads to Boston next, hoping to move past it.
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