Director of officiating oversees the officials. It is now Terry Gregson. he took over for Stephen Walkom who is back on the ice. Like all leagues nowadays they use video to critique performances and show officials what they do right and wrong.

I’d bet cash that nothing comes of this. If anything it just makes Burrows more of a target for the refs.

Even if Auger wasn’t out to get Burrows, someone should have a chat with him about calling penalties. After watching this, I think there’s something to Burrows’ accusations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buVvgCwwOeU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkG0fyvAeA0

If what Burrows is saying is true, this has huge implications. Wow.

I heard that Auger was the one who called Brooks Laich for diving at the last game against Carolina, and it was a pretty questionable call, too (Canes player called for holding Laich).

NHL is saying the case is closed and Burrows has been fined ::pinkie to mouth:: $2,500 dollars.

My take: if this is true, the only remedy is to fire Auger. I accept that refs make errors – even errors caused by dislike of certain players – because they are human. Being inflamed by passion is part of being human, even if it is a requirement for the job that you try not to be. I can’t accept a ref deliberately making bogus penalty calls to carry out a vendetta against a particular player – that’s premeditated and an abuse of power.

It’s really not any different in my mind than a Donaghy-type thing. Auger may not have had money on the game, but he has a personal reason for wanting a certain outcome and is willing to disregard the rules to make that happen. The effect on the game (and the disregard for the integrity of the game/his job) is identical.

I never expected the NHL to hang Auger out to dry, but this is really eye-opening to say the least.