NHL GMs agree: Coach's challenge isn't perfect, no changes for now
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Even the NHL general managers who have concerns about the coach’s challenge do not believe it is time to make changes.
“We all needed to be reminded that the coach’s challenge is about the better call, not the unanimous call,” Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Monday at the annual NHL general managers meetings.
One concern about the system is that it is still difficult — even when referees can watch the replay on a tablet device — to be absolutely certain on the call. When implemented, the rule change was designed mostly to correct major incorrect calls involving offsides or goalie interference on goals.
“It’s working as planned,” Holland said. “The better call isn’t going to be that we come in and it’s 30-0 that we agree on it.”
Even with the use of replay, goalie interference is highly subjective.
“Those 50-50 calls are the cost of doing business to stop the egregious mistakes,” Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli said.
To illustrate how difficult it can be for referees, NHL officials put six examples of replay calls on the video screen and asked general managers to vote. “(Votes) were 20-10, 22-8, 16-14,” Holland said. “It’s about the better call. That’s what we have to focus on.”
The consensus among general managers is to let it play out for a full season and then make tweaks if necessary. One change that might eventually come is having the war room in Toronto have the final say instead of the referees.
Officials informed general managers that new cameras will be installed by the playoffs to make offside calls easier to review. “The offside call should be black and white,” Holland said.
The cameras will all be in place in all 16 playoff arenas.
"Once you get in the playoffs every little thing become a big, big thing," said NHL senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell. "Every year there seems to be three to five cases where you would like the ability to use the coach's challenge to make the call right to be able to leave the rink without a bad taste in your mouth."
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said the new cameras will speed up the process for offside review.
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In other business, general managers gave their endorsement to the NHL to continue the three-on-three format at the All-Star Game.
“The All-Star format was great this year,” said Campbell. “It couldn’t get any worse than what it was in Columbus (in 2015) as far as on the ice. Columbus did their best to be a good host, but that game was so bad. We had to do something.”
GMs had discussions about whether players should face more than a one-game suspension for missing an All-Star Game, but no recommendation was made from the group.
Jonathan Toews and Alex Ovechkin were both suspended for a game for skipping the event, even though both of them had a history of supporting the game.
No discussion was held on changing the All-Star balloting format, although there is an understanding around the league that there will be some change. This season, fans elected tough guy John Scott, even though he was only a part-time player in Arizona.
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