Report: NHL to propose limited 'coaching challenge system' this week

The NHL/NHLPA competition committee - which comprises players, managers and owners - meets on Monday in New York City, and that meeting will be followed up by the general manager meetings on Wednesday.

During those two meetings, the league is expected to present a proposal to introduce a "coaching challenge system." If things go according to plan, that system could be instituted next season according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. 

"Since the last GM meeting in March, the league has been working on - at the direction of general managers - criteria for expanded video review," McKenzie said on Monday during an appearance on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal. "What I'm led to believe they're working on, and what they want to present to the managers on Wednesday for a vote... is that there will be a coaches challenges system introduced in the NHL... But it will be fairly limited [and likely won't include goaltender interference]."

Goaltender interference, and the probable need to review it, has played a major role in the NHL postseason - with Dwight King's tip-in while basically sitting on New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist being the latest example. But it's far from the only controversial example this playoffs. 

Even before the postseason, players from a variety of teams complained about the inconsistency in the way goaltender interference is officiated. Reportedly, the league itself even felt the need to apologize to the Florida Panthers after a blown goaltender interference non-call. But these plays shouldn't be subject to video review or a coaches challenge?

At least one general manager is an outspoken proponent of expanded video review. "Why not?," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said to Damien Cox of the Toronto Star on Monday. "It works in the NFL."

Continued the Panthers top executive: "People are seeing what happens in a critical game and a critical situation that can cost people jobs." 

Still, Tallon would like to see the coaching challenge be severely limited, so as not to disrupt the flow of games. "I'm saying one time per game, one goal, one time per coach. That's it. It's not going to happen that often."

For now, it seems, the coaching challenge - if it passes muster with the competition committee and the league's general managers - will only apply to things like off-sides. Even that issue is at least mildly contentious, with one general manager reportedly concerned about how the league will work out whether a blown offside non-call that happens, say, 45 seconds before a goal occurs, should be seen to have enough influence on the play to negate a goal.