re: NHL referee banned for hot-mic comment during game

I think this sounded a lot worse than it actually was. What likely happened was that he or the crew felt that Nashville had been getting away with certain penalties early in games, and it would escalate and become bigger issues later in the game. So he wanted to call it early so it didn't become a problem late. He then phrased his explanation extremely poorly.

It’s not his job to call a make up call. That ruins the integrity of the game and is “managing the game” that I referenced earlier. It happens all the time in the NHL and is total bullshite. A bad call is made maybe off an honest mistake and then the make up call comes. You see it all the time in the playoffs. The big issue I have though is that talented teams earn penalties and then the refs call phantom penalties on them later in the game to even it up for the lesser skilled teams. And there are definite vendettas against certain teams.

The Caps have been arguably one of the most talented and top teams in the league over the last 13 years and this is their penalty summary:

LINK

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t’s not his job to call a make up call. That ruins the integrity of the game and is “managing the game”

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I agree with you here.

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It happens all the time in the NHL and is total bullshite.

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But it does happen across the league and most officials are guilty of it. This time it happened to be caught on the mic and the dirty little secret everyone already knew was let out. So the league axes him for damage control.

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I don’t follow hockey but is this really a bit deal? Is it just that it was caught on a mic? How is it different than when refs call a few fouls early on teams to prevent worsening behavior or to keep the game in check, even though they may not normally make those calls?

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It sounds like that is what he was trying to do. Probably Nashville has a reputation for routinely doing something that could be penalized and/or the opposing coach pointed that out before the game. Thus, the official wanted to set the tone early that he wasn't going to let Nashville get away with it all game...even though that particular act which he penalized wasn't the most egregious example of the act.

Probably no different than in a football game where one team has a reputation for holding WR's or running "pick" routes on offense. The opposing coaches see that on film and ALL of them talk to the officials before the games. A HC probably says "Hey. Watch their corners. They hold constantly." The official sees it and throws a flag early (even though it may not be the worst hold in the world) to try to prevent it from becoming a bigger issue later. It is just as much a penalty in the 1st quarter as it is in the 4th. But a flag early in the 1st probably won't be as impactful as it would be late it the 4th. So the official is trying to be preemptive and clean the issue up early so he doesn't have to throw that flag in the 4th when it could be a massive game changer. I think that happens ALL THE TIME in sports.

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One thing I do wonder though, as I think this was his last season or maybe he was going to retire soon, does this mess with his pension or anything like that? I imagine all of these professional sports leagues don’t take great care of their referees but they do give them a little something after retirement, as they do when players retire. If you get caught doing something like this, which is pretty substantial, do you think that messes with your pension?

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I highly doubt it. The NHL would probably have to take that through an official process/infraction review board. I think they just want this to go away asap.