Bettman confirms changes to video replay for 2019-20 regular season

No doubt one of the biggest debates amongst hockey fans this season has been the use of video replay. This season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs have provided no shortage of controversial plays and video replay was either responsible or unavailable for most plays.

Cody Eakin’s five minute major in Game 7 of the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks series had fans screaming that video replay should be available to officials when determining major penalties. But then in Game 7 of the Sharks and Colorado Avalanche series it was ultimately video replay that ending the Avs’ season on a play that essentially had no impact on the game. So… in one case we need video review… in the other case it’s not needed. Oh… and then there’s Timo Meier’s missed hand pass in Game 3 against the St. Louis Blues. Basically the entire thing is a giant cluster… you know what.

So, what does NHL commissioner Gary Bettman think? Well prior Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final this evening Bettman made a statement that seems to indicate that more video review is coming for next season.

Check it out:

Bettman says league will look at extending video replay. Big question is how far they go. “This is the challenge. This is the challenge we will focus on and we will meet.”
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 27, 2019

Gary Bettman calls video replay a "blessing and a curse" and acknowledges the NHL may have to expand it.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 27, 2019

The next important step in anticipated changes to NHL video review: The competition committee meeting, tentatively scheduled for June 11 in Toronto. The GMs meet June 20 before the draft in Vancouver.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 27, 2019

More video replay… less video replay… I don’t care. Just get it right, Gary!