Officials should use the buddy system.(Straight Shooter)

NHL referees have the hardest job in the world. I couldn't imagine doing it. The game is so fast, and there are so many penalties and so many things to watch. In basketball, it's pretty obvious what's happening. Referees are looking for guys slapping each other's hands. There's no tripping or sticks. In football, there are so many officials, and it's not as fast.

Keeping track of the game is difficult enough; then, there's the criticism NHL referees endure. Sometimes I think it's OK that we can talk to the officials and give them a piece of our minds, but they definitely take more abuse than they deserve.

Some nights, it seems as though they're not seeing the same things you are, and it's frustrating, but I don't think it should get as bad as it does. The referees can give players a penalty for abusing officials, but it has to get pretty, bad before that happens. I don't know what the answer is. I wouldn't want us not to be able to talk to the officials at all. After all, it's not always players yelling at the ref. Sometimes we're making them aware of things for the next time something happens or getting explanations, and that's important.

This season and last, referees have been criticized particularly for their obstruction calls. But it's not their fault if they're calling a lot of obstruction or ...