NHL Coaches Are Not Happy With The Officials This Season

The issue at hand stems from an episode involving star defenseman Cale Makar. During a game against the Buffalo Sabres two nights ago, Makar left the ice briefly after a hard collision with the boards.

This prompted Nathan MacKinnon, an Avs player, to express his frustration about the lack of a penalty call and subsequently receive a 10-minute misconduct. Bednar defended MacKinnon, stating that he was merely sticking up for his teammate, and emphasized the need for referees to handle criticism more effectively.

"Our team is frustrated because that [penalty] wasn't called. [Makar is] a crucial player for us. You get a little frustrated, and you have a few things to say. I just wish the officials could be more resilient in that situation. They may have missed a call or chose not to make it – whatever it is. I believe they should be able to accept some harsh feedback without issuing a ten-minute misconduct."

"If this continues and escalates, then it's a different story. That's my concern."

The NHL had made it clear to coaches and general managers before the season began that it wanted less public criticism of referees. However, ensuring better officiating might be a priority before demanding this from the teams and coaches.

Source: Bladeofsteel