We're apparently stuck with the same bunch of refs....

[netwolf]

NHL reaches tentative deal with officials c/o tsn.ca...

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=155598&hubname=nhl

Hooray! Err... umm... maybe not...

[Mad City Mike]

[T]he league will gain broader rights to re-assign or replace officials for non-performance.

We'll see how often they use it. In the past, buffoons like Stewart and Devorski rose though the ranks in what seemed to be a pure seniority-based system. It seemed the only way to get rid of them was if they retired. Perhaps this gives a little more hope that they will weed out the bad apples (Auger comes immediately to mind here), thus improving the end product. But I ain't beting on it