NHL Coaching Challenge: Round Table Discussion

Jun 10, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville in game four of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL is going to have a coaches challenge starting as early as next season, but what will be allowed to challenge is going to be a hotly debated topic, just as any major rule change the first year it comes out.

Currently there is a coaches challenge in the NHL – and frankly it isn’t used enough. Before you jump all over my case, there is a rule that states that an opposing bench can request that a players stick be measured, depending on the ruling of the measurement, two minute penalty for one team.

But that isn’t the type of challenge we are talking about here. This is less about players using illegal equipment and more about eliminating some of the human error out of what is a remarkably fast pace game. Enter into the NHL Coaching Challenge Zone.

It appears that goaltender interference is off the table for next year. What is the process going to look like, and how will the game adapt to the rule change, as the league has almost always done anytime something new is implemented? Well the writers at SabreNoise decided to once again convene the round table to give you a healthy dose of our opinion on the topic, so without further ado..

Next: Patrick Helper, Editor - Too Many Men On The Site

Apr 16, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock reacts against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period in game one of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

So, the NHL wants to bring a coaches challenge. It’s not shocking that a league that allowed a goal that was scored by the puck going through the side of the net would need more video help. But, how will this work? Tossing a red flag on the ice seems to be a dumb idea. Let’s face it NHL coaches are not always the most mild tempered, and giving them something to toss on the ice could back fire.

One possibility I could see happening is having a blue light behind the nets or next to the TV time out light and all a coach needs to do is hit a button and the light turns on. I’m not really in favor of using this rule during the regular season, but I could be swayed in seeing it during the playoffs.

I do like the human error aspect of sports. I believe it’s that aspect that allows for the drama of the game to unfold. At some point things are going to become so robotic that it will kill the game we all love.

If and when this does happen I think the review needs to be done in house. Sending more to Toronto doesn’t sit well with me. Let’s stop pretending that just because a video review is happening in a dark room in Toronto it is the right way to do things.

The proposed rule will cover goals that may have resulted from goaltender interference and offside plays. The team would need to have a timeout available as well. So, what we really are saying is each team gets one challenge and now they will be penalized if they need to use their timeout.

Once again the NHL is creating a rule without going all the way. Could we please just have a rule that doesn’t create more excuses?

–Patrick Helper, Editor – Too Many Men On The Site.

Sounds like Patrick wants the game to be left alone – and allow human error to be a part of the game. I do like his idea of the blue light in the time keepers bench – sort of like sounding the horn when Toronto wants to weigh into the ref.

Next: Adam Savard, Staff Writer

Feb 22, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff looks on during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL appears ready to implement the concept of a coaches challenge for both goaltender interference and offsides calls. It will be difficult for me to put into words how much I hate this idea, but I’ll try.

As a fan I enjoy the human element of the game and accept there will be poor calls made. At the same time we also want accuracy to the point where a missed call doesn’t decide a game or championship. But it already has. Let’s go back to the 1999 Stanley Cup Final between the Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars. The “crease rule” had been in place all season with goals such as Hull’s waived off many times.

Yet with the Stanley Cup on the line, the powers that be in Toronto didn’t have he stones to pull both teams back on the ice and make the correct call. Hull’s goal should have been waived off and play resumed, and replay and those running it failed at the worst time.

Full disclosure as a Sabres fan, I thought it was a good goal because there was no interference with Hasek. But the way the rule was written and enforced it was to be waived off. Now I’ll have to suffer through varying interpretations of goalie interference and possible offsides calls. Are you kidding me?!

How many different variations of goalie interference will there be? One dozen? And are we going to hinder the pace of play and ruin dramatic moments in the game just to have the NHL look at calls they have proven unable to get correct with review? The only way I want a coaches challenge is if fans holding season tickets get to override a trade deadline deal by majority vote once per season. Sound ridiculous?! So is this. There’s no need for it.

–Adam Savard, Staff Writer

Adam wants to reach back into the annals of history by going back to “NO GOAL”. Well, goal or not I don’t think even a coaches challenge could have saved that Stanley Cup from the Dallas Stars – but it would have been hilarious to see Lindy Ruff stir the crowd up by yelling NO GOAL and throwing a little red flag from his pocket as well to the throng of Sabres fans that turned out to celebrate second place.

Next: Jacob Strozyk, Editor

Nov 18, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien reacts to a call during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Coaches challenges in the NHL. Is this their attempt to follow suit with what football has done for years now, and what baseball has recently implemented after over a hundred years of not using it? I’m not convinced it is a good idea, or a necessary one.

To give the coaches a chance to challenge the call of a referee for an offside play or goaltender interference is close to pointless. The coach stands behind the bench, and the linesman or referee is standing right on top of the play. Their job is to be that close to the play and make those calls, not the coaches.

The referees have the perfect vantage point to make those calls and the coaches do not, so why give them the power to potentially slow the game down even further. A penalty is something that cannot be appealed, so why should an offside be any different. The only plays that truly need to be reviewed are goals. There is no need for a coaches challenge in the NHL.

–Jacob Strozyk, Editor

I don’t think you are going to convince Jacob that there should be a coaches challenge in the NHL anytime soon. I also don’t think that the coach on the bench will be alone in making the call – assistant coaches in the press box will more than likely letting the coach know to make the challenge, especially during long change periods where the play is up ice.

Next: Tim Redinger - Senior Editor