Could an NFL-Like Instant Replay System Work In The NHL?

While the NHL already has a solid replay system, it can definitely be improved. There is a "war room" in Toronto where many major decisions are made based on TV angles of 60 different cameras. If a call is controversial, they will review it and relay the decision back to the official on the ice. Usually these are about whether a goal was kicked in, whether there was a high stick on a deflected goal etc. The problem with the system is that the coaches don't have a say in this. If the coach believes a bad call was made based on the angle he has, but nobody else in the arena does, shouldn't he have a say?

The NFL has a system in place where coaches can throw two red flags per game to challenge questionable calls by the officials. The head official will review the play in a private booth, using TV camera angles. If the coach was correct, he loses one of his red flags but provides his team with a momentum boost on the field in most cases. If the coach was incorrect, he loses one of his red flags as well as one of his timeouts for the half.

It is a good system in theory but definitely has flaws. If the official can't keep their ego in check, they could just say "My call was correct, deal with it," even after reviewing the play multiple times on video. However, this would be unethical and an official could lose his job over it. Another flaw that many football purists point out is that it takes away from the integrity of the game and puts it in the hands of technology rather than the players.

While there are a few flaws with the system, isn't it fair to say that the NFL has reaped many benefits from it? It keeps fans on the edge of their seat and redeems officials for making tough judgment calls that nobody could have possibly made.

The NHL could implement a similar system and still keep the integrity of the game. They already have instant replay, why not give the coaches a little more leverage? The league already gives the home team a coaching leverage by giving them the last change after each whistle. But this would be even better because it would provide both teams with an equal chance to amend a poor call on the ice.

The league may have to be specific about the type of calls that can be reviewed. Perhaps they could limit it to the calls that are already available via instant replay. It has similar problems that baseball has. In baseball, you can't review every foul ball or pitch. In hockey, you can't review every offsides, self-pass and high stick in open ice.

Putting control back into the coaches' hands, while maintaining the current system with video officials in the Toronto war room, would be better for the game. Many GM's have already expressed interest in such a system. Getting the calls right is the main goal and this would make sure the calls are even more precise.