Appearing on the Dale & Keefe Show, former Bruins goaltender and current NESN analyst Andrew Raycroft pretty much spoke for everyone that ever played the game or has watched the game in recent years when he responded to a question about whether Coyle had possession of the puck.
"Yes, every player in the NHL can make that play, kick it up through the back of their skate and up. And the talent level and the speed has gone up so much that they put the word possession the NHL rule book, but there's no question he had possession, knew exactly what he was doing," Raycroft said.
The problem might be that possession is vague and leaves room for interpretation. The word appears more than two dozen times in the rule book but is never defined.
Mike Johnson played more than 600 NHL games and now works as analyst. He agreed with the call based on the ruling that Coyle didn't have possession, but disagreed that Coyle wasn't in control of the puck
If they determined that he didn't have "possession" it's the right call. My personal determination would have been that he did. https://t.co/twDTO1QbDl
— Mike Johnson (@mike_p_johnson) November 6, 2019Justin Bourne spent several years playing pro and since has worked in coaching and as a writer and analyst. He seemed offended that the referees wouldn't think a NHL player was in control of the puck in the situation Coyle was in.
I say Coyle got screwed by a bad offside call last night because the refs can't fathom being talented enough that THIS constitutes possession. But at no point is the puck bobbled, it's moved exactly where he wants it next, I'd argue this is "control of the puck" as he enters zone pic.twitter.com/UQCg0pNIyi
— Justin Bourne (@jtbourne) November 6, 2019In the province of Quebec, of course, they were searching for ways to justify a call that wen the Canadiens' way and led to two points for the home team.
I disagree. It's technically not possession. The puck is between his feet and behind him as he crosses. I understand what you're saying, but technically no part of him is touching the puck. So you can't say he's in possession of it.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) November 6, 2019Years ago, Marc Savard's unfortunate injuries after he took a cheap shot from Matt Cooke led to a new rule. One has to wonder if there will be a "Charlie Coyle" rule in the offing to make sure that a play every NHLer makes on a daily basis gets codified to be part of the definition of "possession."
