The sixteen teams are set. So are the 44 officials.
Here are the 22 NHL Referees and 22 NHL Linespersons chosen to work the National Hockey League postseason:
Referees
Jake Brenk, Francis Charron, Gord Dwyer, Eric Furlatt, Trevor Hanson, Jean Hebert, Frederick L’Ecuyer, Pierre Lambert, T.J. Luxmore, Peter MacDougall, Wes McCauley, Jon McIsaac, Kendrick Nicholson, Dan O’Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Garrett Rank, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Graham Skilliter, Francois St. Laurent, Furman South, and Kelly Sutherland.
First-Timers: Furman South
Returning from Prior Seasons: Jake Brenk, Brian Pochmara
Out from 2024: Tom Chmielewski, Steve Kozari (injured), Chris Lee
Standby Refs: Chris Schlenker, Corey Syvret
Linespersons
Shandor Alphonso, Tyson Baker, Steve Barton, Devin Berg, David Brisebois, Scott Cherrey, Ryan Daisy, Kyle Flemington, Julien Fournier, Travis Gawryletz, Ryan Gibbons, Trent Knorr, Matt MacPherson, Jesse Marquis, Bevan Mills, Kiel Murchison, CJ Murray, Jonny Murray, Bryan Pancich, Andrew Smith, Libor Suchanek, and James Tobias
First-Timers: Tyson Baker*, Julien Fournier, CJ Murray. (Baker did technically see playoff action as a standby official last season)
Out from 2024: Michel Cormier (injured), Brandon Gawryletz, Mark Shewchyk
Standby Officials: Caleb Apperson, Kilian McNamara
First-Timers
Referee Furman South will be making his postseason debut, alongside Julien Fournier and CJ Murray. Liney Tyson Baker will making his first playoff start, after coming in as a standby official due to injury.
Who’s Missing
Referee Steve Kozari and linesperson Michel Cormier are both out with long-term injuries.
Ghislain Hebert and Derek Nansen are both ineligible for the playoffs, having retired during the season.
Referees not taking part in this year’s playoffs include Cody Beach, Brandon Blandina, Tom Chmielewski, Mitch Dunning, Justin Kea, Michael Markovic, Carter Sandlak, Chris Schlenker, Brandon Schrader, and Corey Syvret.
Linespersons out of the postseason include Caleb Apperson, Jonathan Deschamps, Brandon Gawryletz, Tommy Hughes, Dan Kelly, Brad Kovachik, Joe Mahon, Kilian McNamara, C.J. Murray, Ben O’Quinn, Mark Shewchyk, and Travis Toomey.
Officials splitting time between the AHL and NHL — referees Riley Brace, Beau Halkidis, Graedy Hamilton, Stephen Hiff, Morgan MacPhee, Jordan Samuels-Thomas, and Michael Sullivan, along with linesmen Brandon Grillo, Mitchell Hunt, Ryan Jackson, and Justin Johnson — are also off the playoff roster.
Newly-debuted Alex Lepkowski and Liam Maaskant, having just made their NHL debuts, will have to wait to work their first playoff games.
Career Numbers
Kelly Sutherland leads all active referees in playoff games worked (242), ahead of Wes McCauley (205), Dan O’Rourke (204), Eric Furlatt (168), and Chris Rooney (170). Sutherland also leads all refs in Stanley Cup Final appearances (10) and Cup Final games worked (27).
Sutherland is fourth all-time in playoff games officiated, behind Bill McCreary (297), Don Koharski (266), and Kerry Fraser (254).
On the lines, the active leader for playoff games is Brad Kovachik (200), who’s not working this postseason. He’s trailed by Jonny Murray (192), Scott Cherrey and Steve Barton (tie, 155), and Matt MacPherson (112).
Playoff Salaries
Officials get paid per round in the postseason, with referees earning $27,000 and linespersons $17,250. Standby referees earn $1000 for being on call, with an increase to $2,750 if they get into the game; linespersons on standby pick up a $650 check which bumps to $1,775 if they take the ice.
As in previous seasons, the league will cut down on the pool of officials after each round of the playoffs.
