One or Two Referees

[Hemsky83]

I believe the NHL should go back to the one-referee system. The second referee a lot of times is in the way and the puck sometimes hits a referee where otherwise a team could have scored.

[P.J Stock]

I think the Refs suck.

On one hand I say the fewer there are, the fewer bad calls there will be.

But on the other hand, maybe they need as many out there as possible to help each other out.

After Fleury got his 3rd slashing minor in the third period, he went to the locker room instead. He got dressed and borded the Ranger bus before the game even ended. So appearently he thought the Refs were so terrible, that he didnt even want to finish out the game.

[ken_valyi]

I'm with PJ on this one. There are few referees that I can stomach... in fact I can't think of a sport where I like the officiating (probably says something about me, but I digress).

The two referee system has different problems then the one referee system. The thing I like about it is that the very serious offences that get called under the two ref system that might have gotten missed with just one.

I still think this system has to get the bugs worked out, and the refs need to learn to work together. The NHL should give this at least a few more years before reverting if they ever decide to.

[ken_valyi]

Oilers89,

I moved your thread over to the Penalty box so that more people can see it. I think this is of interest to all NHL fans not just you opinionated Oiler nuts!

Great thread idea!

[cASe SenSiTive]

Only one ref please. The ice is too crowded with two of 'em.

[Darth Xed]

I like the 2 ref system... they missed so many calls before, now at least it helps a little... I haven't really found them 'in the way' as much as everyone else...

[ChrisFrez]

I like the 2 Ref system - however, what I DON'T like it how the NHL is telling the Ref's to make calls, then being very inconsistant about it.

For example, now the close Ref is supposed to be watching the play and the far Ref is supposed to be watching stuff away from the play. What pisses me off is when the far Ref is making calls during the play that the near Ref is supposed to be watching, yet doesn't make the call. It's like - what's going on here?

[cASe SenSiTive]

Well, before, you could see who was gonna ref the game, and you'd know what they would call and what they wouldn't. They all have their own style. Now, with two of 'em, what one guy would let go, the other is calling.

Plus, with two refs, it's harder to nail somebody behind the play, because one of them will prolly see you.

[Darth Xed]

My biggest problem with reffing is the century-old tradition of them swallowing their whistles in the last 5 minutes of a game and in OT...

Call the game the same way the whole time...

A slash is a slash whether it is in the 1st period, or with 3 minutes left in OT...

[ken_valyi]

I just hope Microsoft doesn't come and rig this poll!

.Net vote rigging illustrates importance of Web services

[Signal]

Ok, is it me or is it a fact that since the NHL has been using instant replay for the refs that the goal judges have become almost useless...I mean no disrespect to those guys but seriously the refs and video replay officials have the last word now days, I don't hardly ever see them consult with the goal judges anymore...Now about ten years ago Stan Fishler had an idea to use two referees, but to have the second ref sit up in a chair above the ice...It sounded like a strange idea at the time...But I was thinking recently that this may be something to consider as an alternative to today's two ref system, to keep the ice less cluttered with bodies...But instead of positioning the ref as in Stan's idea, have TWO refs above the ice each sitting in the goal judge's place...They are more than qualified to turn on the red light!...And they can keep watch from well above to help call penalties...There'd still be the head ref on the ice as well...Obviously there are going to be problems with three refs but I think it's something that could be considered!...What do you guys think??...

Jason