The NHL is weighing a significant shift in how games get officiated, and the timing couldn’t be more charged for the Canadiens.
At Tuesday’s general managers’ meeting in Toronto, league officials and Gary Bettman discussed expanding video review, with Montreal’s recent run-ins with referees hanging over the conversation. Bettman said the topic was already on the agenda before the Canadiens’ latest complaints escalated, but the club’s frustration has clearly put a spotlight on the issue.
Montreal has been vocal about officiating lately, and two moments have only added fuel. The latest came Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, when Arber Xhekaj was handed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after stepping in to defend Kirby Dach during a stoppage. Inside the Canadiens’ room, that call didn’t sit well.
The bigger picture is even more uncomfortable for Montreal: the Canadiens now lead the NHL in penalties, and the irritation is building.
Right now, referees automatically review major and match penalties. They can also go back and look at double-minor high-sticking calls to determine whether an opponent’s stick caused the contact. The league is now exploring whether that review power should stretch to some minor penalties as well.
One idea on the table would let referees communicate directly with an off-ice official through an earpiece. High-sticking and delay-of-game penalties are among the calls being considered, though the league isn’t limiting itself to those alone.
NHL hockey operations executive Colin Campbell made the case plainly, noting that fans can see replays on their phones or on the scoreboard while officials often don’t have the same access. Campbell also said he’d like interference and holding calls included, if the teams approve it. Bettman even brought up the possibility of artificial intelligence at some point down the line.
What the league is discussing would not directly solve the Xhekaj situation, though. The Montreal defenseman has 32 penalty minutes through 17 games.
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes was also asked whether the league had discussed any possible bias against certain players, an apparent reference to Xhekaj.
The conversation will continue at the next general managers’ meeting in March. For now, Montreal is stuck with the current setup, beginning with its next game in Boston.
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