We asked some GMs who they’d pick to be a referee or linesman if they ever had that uncomfortable yet fun opportunity.
“Travis Konecny seems to have a lot of opinions,” Brière said. “Linesman? I’d go with one of my centers because they deal with the linesmen on faceoffs, so let’s go Sean Couturier.”
“Sasha (Barkov),” said Florida’s Bill Zito. “Sasha’s the best at everything, and he’d also be the fairest.”
“Esa Lindell as ref,” said Nill. “He’s got the most even demeanor. Miro Heiskanen as linesman. He’s the best skater.”
“Pavel Buchnevich,” Blues GM Doug Armstrong said. “He makes all the calls already.”
“I’d pick Zuccy (Mats Zuccarello), but he’s too opinionated,” said Guerin. “Brodes (Jonas Brodin) is one of the best skaters in the league, so he’d be the best linesman, and Spurge (Jared Spurgeon) would be the best ref because he’s the most level-headed.”
“I’d go Gabriel Landeskog as ref because he’s got a really good feel for the temperature of games,” MacFarland said, “and Josh Manson as linesman because you’ve got to have size to break up the scuffles.”
Darche picked Adam Pelech “because he’s so honest and would probably call penalties on us he’s so honest” and Jean-Gabriel Pageau as linesman “because nothing rattles that guy. He’d have no problem blowing a play down on a close offside.
“I’d pick Matthew Schaefer, but he’s too young and already gets too much attention.”
Tulsky didn’t want to pick a player: “I love all my children equally.”
Why an obscure rule lets NHL players become referees if officials no-show for games, Michael Russo
