Are the refs paid to make the Stanley Cup playoffs last longer?

Question

Alright, I'm almost convinced that the refs are paid to make the playoffs last longer. I'm not a sore loser, but have played hockey for a long time. I think that the refs are paid to make bad calls. I COMPLETELY understand that they are human and make mistakes, but some of their calls (for both teams) are really starting to become shady.

Answer 1

Maybe....only the refs know if they really are paid to make bad calls.

But don't worry,the refs have made bad calls throughout the whole playoffs.

Answer 2

No. Get rid of all this talk about conspiracy, paying the refs, etc, and let them play. Until the players start crying about it, you really have no right, either. I think the series as a whole, and not in part, has been called fairly evenly.

The second goalie interference shouldn't have been called, but by the same token, the Sykora call was weak as well. Enjoy the game, and let them play. The calls are going both ways, for sure, so I see no problems here.

Here's to a great next two games.

Julie, that could be the funniest thing I've heard all day. IF the Pens force a game seven, IF they win the cup, you're going to give all the credit to Bettman too, aren't you? WHAT A CROCK. Not a conspiracy, open your biased eyes. Frankly, I think the Wings fans are a little on edge because this thing is turning out to be quite a bit more of a series than they thought.

Answer 3

I wonder some times...the Philly vs Pittsburgh game. There was so many things they could have called but it seemed like one game they picked on the pens the other on the flyers.

And the sires went to game 5.  Not to mention the tickets were going for over 500 bucks each, some up to $1000 or $2000.  Also the parking passes, the people staying in the hotels in the area. The clothes and hats etc. Food places in the area (bars).

Everyone in the NHL/ local area made a killing

EDIT: yes I agree as a pittsburgh gal, things do seem very one sided some times. There is things that happen that  don't get called but then it happends again and its a HUGE THING...I think the better team will win but who knows when it will.

Answer 4

Officials and players are paid a fixed sum each series.

Refs are paid $570/series, Linesman are $400+

Players are paid a portion depending on how shares are voted.

Teams that lose in the first round get a set amount

Teams that lose in the second round get a set amount

Teams that lose in the third round get a set amount

The team that loses in the SCF gets a set amount, and the team that wins gets about 1.5x what the loser gets.

The amounts have changed slightly since the 60s, so in the 60s, winning the Stanley Cup was worth about $3500 per player on the winning team.  That was significant when your annual salary was about $20K.  Today, winning the Cup is worth about $4500/player............which is peanuts if you make $6MM a year.

Answer 5

Those two goalie interference calls were retarded!

Answer 6

ive seen a question like this already, but no i dont think so

if they were paid to make the playoffs longer, to make more money for the nhl, the nhl would lose it paying the refs

Answer 7

my dad was wondering the same thing...I have no clue though

Answer 8

I spoke to a friend of mine after Game 5.  He is involved in the minor league hockey organization.  He has remained neutral throughout the entire playoffs.  The biggest issue during the SCF is the same as it has been all season.  The inconsistent calls.  The interference calls should have been enforced much earlier in the playoffs, especially when the goalie is involved.  He told me that in both cases the other night, the call was actually correct.  I personally thought the second call was suspect, but he told me it was most likely called because prior to the Pittsburgh defenseman taking him out, he was heading straight for Fleury himself, not just the net.  The Wings are infamous for this he told me.  It hardly ever gets called against them.    But for so many years they have been dominant and very few teams in the East or West have been able to match them like this.  He also said many calls are being missed on both sides.  The refs. are trying to let them play, but there is a limit.  He told me he personally saw several other punches besides Roberts that was thrown and not called.  Not only with the Wings and Pens, but other teams as well.

Answer 9

The 2 calls that seem to get this question asked were the 2 goalie interference calls on Detroit in OT.  Both of those calls were valid.  It is clearly stated in the rulebook that no player shall interfere with the goalies ability to play his position.  Skating through the crease with or without the puck and knocking over the goaltender will always be called a penalty.  A few minutes after the 2nd interference call, the Penguins were called for a chincy hooking penalty, looked like a classic "make up call".  I was shocked to here the announcers complaining about the interference calls, particularly the 2nd one.  One announcer kept saying what is he supposed to do he is taught to drive to the net.  Answer: teach him how to drive to the net within the rules, not by knocking over the goalie.

EDIT: Yes, the 2 goalie interference calls were correct.  If anybody has a complaint about the calls it would be Pittsburgh, considering the winning goal in game 4 was scored due to an interference play.  Go back and watch your TIVO and see the player in the high slot blocking Orbick from getting back in the play on that backhand goal.  Detroit is INFAMOUS for running goalies and using picks like they are on a basketball court.  If anything, they should be penalized more often.  How many interference calls have been committed against Crosby and Malkin that have not been called?

Answer 10

Ok...so bad calls are made all around.  I'll be the first to admit that the Pens have gotten away with things they shouldn't have and same with the Wings.

The point I will argue is that...when the Pens get a powerplay...recently they can't do anything about it.  How many shots on goal do we have as an average during a powerplay in this series.  I know there have been many powerplays where we have had 0.  When the Wings get the powerplay, Fleury works his butt off.

Answer 11

You guys are all fools if you think that way.

Answer 12

I was just about to ask a question, "Any bush leage hockey refs available for a hockey game in pittsburg tonight...only need 4 or so to show up".  I'm sure a college ref could do a better job at calling a game.  Am I the only one that saw the pit guy whacking away at holmstroms hamstring before a face off...and no roughing call?????  It's a poor reflection on pittsburg (the loser city it will become) and hockey when a team so blantantly whacks a guys hamstring after he just comes back from IR right after 2 flagrant headshots to a guy coming back from concussions?  Doesn't the league review the games and issue written warnings and fines for misconduct???

AND JOSEPH...are you kidding me that the goalie interference was a good call..both times??  Do you understand the whole pont of hockey???  Putting the goal in the net!?  Why would a person go and sit back on the bench after the puck approaches the little blue line that surrounds the most padded guy on the ICE???

Also the definition of tripping was displayed in technicolor when the pen tripped up zetterberg (i think) 8 feet from the goal before he touched the puck..and no call??  Am I making this stuff up?

This series has been a joke for Hockey...and if I wasn't such a long time Red Wings fan I wouldn't be watching it.  I mean...why would the league change rules to encourage more scoring...like removing the center line and creating the stupid "Goalie Line" to get more action into the corners...and then not reprimand or straight up kick a referee out on his ear, after waving off a Detroit Goal..not once but 2x's when the replay clearly showed the calls were FOS (full of S**t).

I understand the intent of the goalie interference rule is to keep players from skating directly into the goalie and knocking themselves, the goalie, and the puck into the net...that is wrong...but to have your assets over the line...or to skate on top of the goalie line is looking for a reason to put the wings at a disadvantage.

Answer 13

As a neutral viewer not fan of either team, the calls have been going both ways.  I have seen many, many highlights of Crosby being interfered with.  But they aren't being called because he has a reputation as being a whiner and got the calls all year long.  There is that type of pressure on the refs, and it ends up in bad calls.

Reality is, Pittsburgh was behind in that game for 10 minutes only.  They lead for almost 40 minutes.

Answer 14

i think so. i mean, two goalie interference penalties in overtime? that weren't even illegal? yeah, its pathetic. my dads girlfriends friend went to game 5 (she is a massage therapist for the wings) and she was sitting next to a bostin bruin and someone else, and they both were laughing at how blunt pitt was holding and interfering with us, and then they would call something on us for retaliating (don cherry, thats why we dont retaliate like other teams. WE get called for it!)

its horrible, and gary bettman told the refs to do this im guessing. he loves that pitt got it to a game six, he wouldnt take anything less!

so the answer is yes, the refs are really paid and told to make the series more of a series, and not a lop-sided event. it makes me sick, because its always against us. but hey, doesn't it seem like everybody hates every detroit team, whatever the sport? you would think we were used to it by now. haha. guess not. we still have hope!

well, go wings tonight end it here!

DETROIT RED WINGS!(: