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NHL General Managers Weigh In on Video Review and Coach’s Challenge
NHL’s Annual Meetings Kicked Off with In-Depth Discussion on Video Review
MANALAPAN, Fla. — The NHL used the first day of its annual meetings with general managers to delve into the intricate world of video review and the coach’s challenge process. The goal? To ensure the League’s rules are consistently and fairly applied, especially as the season heats up.
| Date | Details | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | NHL executive vice president of hockey operations Kris King outlined the educational focus of the meetings. “These guys understand these are hard and they’re not all the same,” King said. | The meeting aimed to gauge the GMs’ understanding and opinions on the video review process, especially as it relates to the coach’s challenge. |
| 2015-16 Season | The coach’s challenge was initially implemented to review goals scored off potential offside and goalie interference infractions. | Over the years, the League has expanded the challenge to include goals scored off a missed stoppage in play and to penalize for a puck being shot out of play. |
| 2019-20 Season | A minor penalty for a failed coach’s challenge was introduced, leading to a significant decrease in the number of challenges and overturned goals. | This penalty has made coaches more cautious about when to use the challenge, leading to more accurate calls. |
| Ongoing | The NHL continues to seek input from GMs to refine the video review process, especially for potential goalie interference calls, which are the most subjective. | The GMs reviewed videos during breakout sessions to determine whether specific plays should result in a goal or no goal based on the coach’s challenge. |
Guidelines for Goal or No Goal on Goalie Interference Reviews
The NHL provided detailed guidelines on determining goal or no goal on goalie interference reviews, shedding light on the decision-making process in the Situations Room.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Contact with the Goaltender | Distinguish between deliberate and incidental contact with the goalie. |
| Position of the Player | Was the player in the blue paint or the white paint when the contact occurred? A player is allowed into the crease as long as they allow the goalie to play their position. |
| Initiation of Contact | Determine whether the skater or the goalie initiated the contact and whether action from a defensive or offensive player led to the contact. |
| Goalie’s Opportunity to Save | Assess whether the goalie had a chance to reset and make the save. |
Insights from NHL Executives and General Managers
NHL executives and general managers shared their views on the video review process and its impact on the game.
| Speaker | Role | Insights |
|---|---|---|
| Kris King | NHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations | King emphasized the educational aspect of the meeting and the importance of gauging the GMs’ opinions on the video review process. “We gave them all these videos and asked them what they thought and if there is something we can look at we will, but I know we’re in a real good spot with this,” King said. |
| Colin Campbell | NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations | Campbell highlighted the League’s approach to educating managers and seeking their input. “We ask the question, are we too careful on protecting goaltenders? Should there be more contact in the crease? We take it all in, listen to them and do the right thing for the game,” he said. |
| Eric Tulsky | Carolina Hurricanes GM | Tulsky praised the consistency of the video review process. “It’s a very complicated rule and when you take the time to go through what separates one play from another, it is astonishingly consistent,” he said, adding that the process involves a high degree of nuance and detail. |
| Kay Whitmore | NHL Group Vice President | Whitmore noted the rise in goalie interference reviews and the parity in the League. “Right now, guys are going to the net as hard as ever. I think they’re getting in there and they’re not worried about it because they’re just trying to score and trying to win. They’re not trying to interfere with the goalie, but sometimes you lose where you are on the ice. That could be one more reason why there’s more challenges — because there’s just more goalie interference.” |
Historical Data on Goalie Interference Reviews
The number of challenges for goalie interference has fluctuated over the past few seasons. Here’s a breakdown of the reviews and overturned goals:
| Season | Number of Reviews | Overturned Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 (Entering Monday) | 108 | 62 |
| 2022-23 | 85 | 42 |
| 2021-22 | 82 | 35 |
| 2020-21 | 88 | 48 |