Open Letter to Stephen Walkom
Mike Adams | National Hockey League
Jun 5, 12:59 PM | Hype this story!
Dear Mr. Walkom,
Almost three years ago, as the lockout came to an end, the “New NHL” was born. You announced, to much fanfare, that officials were being instructed to enforce the rulebook as written.
Gone were the obstruction tactics of teams like the New Jersey Devils. Hooking and obstruction away from the play were regularly called. Open ice was the rule. The skaters were allowed to skate, the passers to pass, the shooters to shoot.
Unfortunately, I write to you today bemoaning the death of the “New NHL.” Having watched six games of the Stanley Cup Final, I can say with confidence that things are right back to the way they were prior to the lockout. Obstruction is back in force. The “see-no-evil” style of officiating that you were trying to eliminate is back.
Game 6 was an absolute disgrace. But that should come as no surprise when you tab a referee like Brad Watson to officiate your most meaningful games. Imagine that, a guy who was proven to not even know the league’s rules reffing its biggest game! Only in America (or Canada, I suppose). From start to finish, the calls were an absolute farce. Calls that should have been made weren’t, and calls were made that shouldn’t have been.
Oh, and we won’t even mention the final minute. It looked like rugby out there. There were tackles galore, by both teams, yet no call was made. So much for your edict to call it the same in the last minute as you do in the first, the same in the last game of the season as the first. Why even bother having officials out there if they can’t make even the most obvious of calls?
Yet you seem to reward the guys who “put the whistles away,” guys that “let the players decide the game,” by giving them the prime assignments. You say one thing to the public, but your actions take the opposite track. You promise enforcement, but you encourage blind eyes by assigning the referees who call few penalties to the Final.
In closing, let me say that this is not the sour grapes of a Penguin fan. Detroit was the better team, and would have won the series no matter who officiated it. But it sure would have been even more enjoyable to watch had your own refs known and understood the rules.
Comments
Dabich
Jun 5, 01:06 PM
Like you said, Mike, the Wings would still have won. But not only was it less enjoyable for the fans, it was very confusing for the players. The inconsistency of the calls – and the non-calls – made the players wonder what they could/should do. And the non-calls made for frustrating play on both sides.
I think this should be addressed and corrected before next season.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 5, 01:28 PM
What I never understood was the “let the players decide the game” mentality.
When you actually think about that, by letting the guys play, the refs are actually deciding the games themselves.
For example, if a player breaks the rules and trips another player, he should be called for tripping. He decided to trip his opponent and, according to the rules, should sit for two minutes. If that call is made, the penalized player — not the referees — decided that part of the game.
Now, if the same situation happens and the referees opt not to call the penalty by the rulebook, the referees — not the players — are deciding the game because they are ignoring the rules.
The saying should actually be “let them work for it” — or maybe “let’s pick the winner.”
With that being said, I completely agree that the better team won and that the Penguins’ loss wasn’t a result of the officials. Kudos to the Red Wings for playing spectacular hockey and beating a very good, young team. They deserved it!
Mike Adams
Jun 5, 01:50 PM
Had the Pens tied it up in the final moments, the Wings would have had a right to be livid. One of their guys was skating the puck out across the blue line and was just blatantly tripped—no call. Yeah, that’s “letting the players decide it.”
The Maltby dive. Franzen interfering with Fleury. Blatant interference by Kronwall (?) on Hossa at center ice. Trips all night. And I’m sure Wings fans have a list of their own.
Michael
Jun 5, 02:33 PM
I was getting tired of hearing about Detroit’s “stifling defense” in the third period. Yes, the Wings play some great defense, but ANYONE can be stifling when they’re allowed to hold and obstruct over and over without penalty.
Dabich
Jun 5, 02:50 PM
Amen Michael!
George
Jun 7, 05:38 AM
Why bother petitioning the NHL for anything? I have sent them letters every year after the Stanley Cup Finals since 1998 bemoaning the unprofessional and inconsistent officiating during the season, during the payoffs, and during the Finals. I am sure I was not the only one complaining because it is just so blatantly obvious that the officials don’t make calls unless its dramatic or unless blood is drawn.
Every year, fans of the losing team make the observation so I guess our requests to the league go unanswered because they think all of us have sour grapes. The truth is, I love hockey no matter whose playing (except Philadelphia), and I want just want the league to appear fair and consistent. It unprofessional to appar otherwise, and yet it not a priority for them. Incredible!
LeRinkRat - Las Vegas
Jun 7, 04:52 PM
as a long time fan of the Penguins and the great game of hockey, I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one disgusted with the Refs in the playoffs and esp the finals. every season we hear this “we are gonna crack down on the obstruction” baloney from the likes of Bettman, Colin Campbell and “Your NOT” Walkom and it lasts about the 1st half of the season. people obviously want to see an up tempo game where the skilled players shine and NOT a version of “Rugby on Ice”.
game six had one of the highest TV ratings in recent history and the league probably lost half the casual fans that tuned in with the garbage they saw from BOTH teams that went uncalled.
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