Once again, at the annual NHL General Managers meeting, the topic of goaltender interference was discussed. Now it doesn’t hold meetings like it did last year, when it was really a problem. Remember, right after those 2025 NHL GMs meetings, the situation between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders took place in a rewarding game.
GMs and Organizations go over everything; it was confusing, given what Columbus’ goal was, and they gave examples of what was goal interference and what wasn’t. But a year later, things are more confusing than ever after what happened between the Anaheim Ducks and the Ottawa Senators.
The Ottawa Senators scored shorthanded but the Anaheim Ducks challenged the goalie interference.
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On the goal scored by Thomas Chabot of the Ottawa Senators, it appeared that Senators forward Tim Stutzle interfered with Ducks goalie Willie Husso, preventing him from making a save and playing his position. However, the situation room left with the phone, and there was not enough video evidence to destroy the phone.
But as challenge levels of goal interference drop, it seems there isn’t as much clarity as thought. It’s about improving the brand and helping coaches, fans, and the media understand what the Situation Room and Officials want.
As TSN’s Pierre LeBrun said on Insider Trading, one of these goalie interference calls will cost a team in the playoffs.
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Gino Reda: “Another place to talk about this day, well, it looks like Groundhog Day when it comes to goal interference, Pierre.”
Pierre LeBrun: “It’s not clear. I mean, like Pat Verbeek he wanted to be clarified on this day inside that room, because he had a goal that they challenged last Saturday in Ottawa. Ville Husso is clearly touched in his crease by Tim Stutzle, and the goal stayed.
And the reason for that, as Colin Campbell explained on this day, was that they felt that calling on the ice was a good goal, and that there was not enough evidence that Ville Husso could not do his job. I don’t agree. I think Pat Verbeek disagrees. I think many other GMs disagree, and this is a problem for the NHL.
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They spent a lot of time on this last year in GM meetings; they gave us a presentation about it. But there will be a moment in these Stanley Cup Playoffs when what feels like a goal that should be disallowed is allowed to stand, and it could impact the playoff series.
And I don’t care what the league says, I don’t think they’ve cleared that up.”
But he wasn’t the only one who had a say in it. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, from the NHL Network, also disagreed with the call in Anaheim-Ottawa and feels the goalie interference will cost the team in the playoffs. It’s about the big picture of the game.
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EJ Hradek: “What about goal interference? This is another exciting topic for managers. Year after year.”
Elliotte Friedman: “Yeah, I’ve been in love with a couple from Colin Campbell. You know what, guys, I don’t know how you feel? I didn’t like that one in Ottawa-Anaheim over the weekend. Look, I don’t think people don’t have the ability. I don’t think anything like that. And goalies in the past have told me that you have to be successful, be able to deal with situations to win, be able to deal with situations to be successful make saves.
And I don’t want to disrespect the people who play the role, because they know more than I do. I just looked at that one on February 28 Rangers-Penguins, and that one the other day, and I just think, in the playoffs, it’s not fair. Really, I try to look at the big picture of the sport, the players, the fans, everybody. I don’t always succeed, but it’s always the way I try to look at things.
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I just look at those two goals, and I say, I don’t think it’s good in this game if someone is clear and the other is not. I’m just worried in the finals, something’s going to happen, and we’re all going to look at it and go, Oh, this is just not good.”
Although it was not on the agenda to change the rule, it has reached the point of no return, especially if something happens in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
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