Tim Peel makes statement on the one-year anniversary of his firing from the NHL

It's probably a day that former NHL referee Tim Peel would like to forget. Instead, he decided to give his thoughts on the one-year anniversary of his firing from the NHL after a hot mic caught him saying he was giving the Nashville Predators a "make-up" penalty for an earlier, weak call on the Detroit Red Wings.

"It wasn't much, but I wanted to get a f---ing penalty against Nashville early in the," Peel was heard saying before the audio cut off.

That was March 23rd, 2021. The next day, March 24th, the NHL announced Peel would not be working any more games in the league "now or in the future." Despite his unceremonious departure after several years of officiating NHL games, Peel doesn't appear to be bitter about the way it went down.

"One year ago today I made a major mistake," Peel said on Twitter. "I chose the wrong words and paid a severe price. Everything I have is because of the National Hockey League. [NHL Commissioner] Gary Bettman and [Deputy Commissioner] Bill Daly were incredible to me over my career."

The reality is that Peel was doing what referees in the NHL have been doing for years. He just accidentally made it public. There has been a ton of debate around "game management" in the NHL. Like it or not, it happens, and continues to happen on a nightly basis.

Following Peel's dismissal, there was plenty of discussion around whether the NHL would attempt to move away from game management, especially with the league trying to popularize gambling in hockey. It certainly doesn't appear that it has. Whether that's right or wrong depends on where you stand on the issue.

MUST READ

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Vancouver Canucks' Contract Offer to Brock Boeser Leaks Publicly

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Montreal Canadiens Star Undergoes Season-Ending Knee Surgery

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Philadelphia Flyers Officially Looking to Trade Former 39-Goal Scorer

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Evander Kane May Be in His Final Days in Edmonton After Friedman Reveals New Information

Feb 28  |  By Mike Whitaker Maple Leafs Forward Pulls Back Trade Request

Feb 27  |  By Mike Whitaker Brad Marchand Goes Viral for Passionate Video Ahead of Four Nations Faceoff Final

Feb 27  |  By Mike Whitaker David Pastrnak's Latest Comments Suggest Bruins Will Be Big Sellers at the Deadline

Feb 27  |  By Julien Trekker 6-Foot-6 Winger Linked to the New York Rangers at the Trade Deadline

MORE STORIES