Video review for goalie interference? It could happen
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BOCA RATON, FLA.The crowded crease could become a thing of the past.
Or, at least be given a second look.
As NHL general managers wrapped up Day 1 of their annual three-day meetings Monday at the Waldorf Astoria Boca Beach Club, they sounded open to the idea of expanding video review to include the much-debated topic of whether goalie interference should be reviewed.
Meeting in small groups before gathering Tuesday morning to discuss en masse, the GMs will decide if they want someone taking a second look to decide if a goalie was interfered.
“The important thing is to get it right,” said Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford as the meetings wrapped around lunch.
“Just based on the group we had, a smaller group, we did feel that made some sense. That has to go to a bigger group and have more of an open discussion about it. I think we’re at the point where that’s something we’d recommend.”
If the NHL does decide to go this route, it represents a major change in the league’s thinking.
Some GMs are hesitant to bring in more video review because they don’t want to delay the game any longer and, during their meetings Monday, everybody seemed to have a different take on what the definition of interference was.
Calgary GM Brad Treliving noted that could be a huge issue.
Goaltenders around the league have been complaining long and loud about this because they don’t feel like they’re being given their space in the blue paint.
Right now, it’s up to the referee. The play can’t be reviewed.
“We could all sit here and watch the same video and I can guarantee you that it’s not going to be 100% they’re all saying the same thing, and that’s after watching five replays in super-slow mo and beating it up for 10 minutes,” Treliving said.
“I think you hear it all the time, the speed of the game and having to make decisions in a split second, our officials do a phenomenal job. Now it’s just trying to break down what it is we want to review and the whole purpose of the review is to make sure as best you can make sure you’re correct and there is finality to it. It’ll take some discussion.”
On that point, Treliving is right.
In the small group where Senators GM Bryan Murray was sitting, he left with the impression that video review won’t be implemented anytime soon.
“I don’t think we’re going to go to video replay, for example, with goaltender interference, I really don’t,” Murray said. “I think that has to be left to the officials to make a judgment call on the ice. Some nights we’re not happy, but the majority of the calls that I’ve seen anyway so far have been the right call.”
That being said, Murray does believe the goaltenders need to have their space.
“The goaltender has to be able to play the position,” he added. “We (watched) a number of video clips about that and it appears that for the most part it’s OK. I think there are circumstances where we might like to tighten a couple of areas up. For the time being, it hasn’t been addressed in the main body yet, so we’ll wait till (Tuesday) for that.”
That’s why Toronto GM Dave Nonis said don’t jump to conclusions about goalie interference being brought to review. They still need to discuss it as a whole group.
“That’s something we’ll discuss (Tuesday),” Nonis said. “We just got into the first part, which is, is there an issue? Is there an issue of goalies getting bumped, and if so how big of an issue is it? I think (Tuesday) you’ll see we’ll delve into that a little bit deeper.”
Rutherford said everything is up for debate.
“We can always debate whether it was an infraction. You are never going to get that 100% but for the most part I think they get it right,” he said.
The issue of 3-on-3 overtime was put off to Tuesday.
DIVING ON THE BOCA MENU
Sitting seaside at the Boca Beach Club, it only makes sense that NHL GMs spent part of the day talking about diving.
While the league cracked down on divers this year -- including a warning and fines for the player and the coach on the fifth offence -- it wanted to make sure the GMs were on board with the decision to keep trying to push this through the post-season and to inform the officials that certain players are known divers.
“It takes a greater presence in the game is in the playoffs. Every little play counts in the playoffs. Every little play like this,” said NHL senior vice-president Colin Campbell. “And then you’re going to get players embellishing in the playoffs and one of the key questions before they departed the room was: Do you want us informing the referees of who we think the individuals are who embellish more often than others?
“And for the most part, we had most of the manager agree, and there’s a few managers that don’t want us to inform the referees. We thought it was relevant that the referees should know. It’s the hardest call on the ice for an official, embellishment.”