Boston Bruins: Claude Julien Wants Better Coach’s Challenge
Boston Bruins: Claude Julien Wants Better Coach’s Challenge
The NHL implemented a new “Coach’s Challenge” this season to make sure calls on the ice were more accurately ruled upon than they previously have been. While the idea is a good one, the execution has been less than satisfactory and it has led a few coaches to speak out, and against the new rule that was put in place to ultimately help them.
Claude Julien has been on the receiving end of a losing coach’s challenge multiple times already this season, but rather than be discouraged by it, the head coach of the Boston Bruins has some suggestions for the NHL.
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“A couple things,” Julien said on Thursday. “I think maybe coaches need a better understanding of what the referees are looking at and how they’re calling it. The other part is if it’s one of those things where we feel it’s inconsistent from referees to referees, then maybe we take it out of their hands and take the pressure off them as well. They’re having to tell everybody, ‘I was wrong,’ or ‘I missed it,’ which for some might not be a big deal, (but) for others (is) a bigger one.”
Claude Julien had another suggestion as well.
“And the other part that I said is that any time that (a replay) is inconclusive — especially offside in that area there, but even in other areas as well — I don’t think we should lose our timeout because of that fact, because we could be right after all. Inconclusive doesn’t mean we were wrong. So that is something that they should look at as well.”
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Both suggestions make perfect sense, as the referees are only human as well, and they’re simply doing their job to the best of their ability. There have been quite a few calls that have left coaches close to ripping their hair out of their head, and it has led some coaches to suggest abolishing the coach’s challenge all together.
“Some coaches say just take the challenge out, then more of us when you have an offside would bark at the referee when there’s nothing you can do about it,” Julien said. “But now we know we can, but when you lose your timeout when you maybe shouldn’t have, it’s even more frustrating. So there are a lot of things here that after a year of experience, I’m sure everybody’s going to look at it and try and to modify it or fix it or make it better.”
One coach who isn’t a fan of the coach’s challenge process is Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella. Following his team beating the Bruins 6-4 at the TD Garden, the Blue Jacket’s head coach made his opinion loud and clear.
“I think we should get rid of it,” Tortorella told reporters. “I think we should just get rid of it. And let the refs make the call, because if we spend two or three minutes and a coach wastes his timeout to try and get the call right, and we still get it wrong, then why have it.”
“Ask every coach the same question,” Julien said with a smile. “You know, it’s like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re going to get.”
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The NHL will certainly be looking at ways to improve all aspects of the game at every opportunity, but the coach’s challenge should certainly be a priority for the league this offseason.
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