May 5, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley reacts to a reviewed play in the third period against the Anaheim Ducks in game three of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
So far there isn’t much positive news to talk about with the coaches challenge, and I am going to agree with my fellow writers. There is no need for a coaches challenge in the National Hockey League.
It isn’t going to slow the pace of the game down any – Toronto is pretty good at making the right call quickly – and even on the tough calls they aren’t holding up the play all that long. With the question of off-sides- it isn’t like reviewing a goal where you are looking for a sliver of white between puck and goal line while there is an orgy of legs and arms, and gear in the way.
So why shouldn’t there be a coaches challenge in hockey? Because there are so many other things that should be fixed first. The shootout, overtime, the size of the ice is my biggest pet peave.
I am not a proponent of eliminating seats to make the rinks Olympic size – but if you make the blue lines four feet wide instead of just one foot – you are now making the offensive zone larger – giving power plays more room to work. Your making off-sides easier to avoid – your eliminating the needless neutral zone somewhat.
On such a limited scope you are going to cause such a fuss over a marginal impact on the game – skip the coaches challenge and actually fix something that is broke.
–Tim Redinger, Senior Editor
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