NHL’s controversial goalie interference rule dominates first day of general managers meetings

Much like the varying opinions that bubble to the surface after controversial goalie interference rulings, there’s a divide among NHL general managers about how to move forward on the contentious issue.

The league’s 31 GMs spent the entire first session of their three days of meetings tackling goalie interference, with some seeking clarity and others wondering about the decision process altogether.

While it’s unclear what will come out of the gathering that wraps up Wednesday, it seems as though a declaration is coming down the pipe with the playoffs just over three weeks away.

“I think something positive will certainly come out of it,” Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello said after Monday’s meeting broke. “We also have to be really careful in dwelling on that something is majorly wrong.”

Lamoriello’s team has been at the centre of a couple of the calls in question, with head coach Mike Babcock openly questioning refereeing decisions as they related to goalie interference.

“We’ve had several isolated incidents that maybe were flagrant and people disagreed with, and I think they sort of upstaged everything,” Lamoriello added. “So we have to be careful of that, but in saying that there should be a change and there will be.

“It’s just making sure it’s the right thing.”

Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin, however, stressed any alteration should be minor.

“Overall there’s nothing major wrong with the system,” he said. “It’s working well. The few (controversial) ones make it more difficult to judge.”

And therein lies a lot of the problem for the NHL.

Coaches were given the option to challenge for goalie interference this season, with referees looking at a tablet by the penalty box while communicating with the league’s hockey operations department via headset.

But with the on-ice officials getting the final say in the heat of the moment, some decisions have left more than a few high-profile players and coaches, including Babcock, furious.

Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman wants to see a more uniform process.