NHL reveals how much referees make during the Stanley Cup playoffs

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Dorin Canaday
May 20, 2022 (3:09 PM)

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NHL referees and linesmen don't get paid a salary during the Stanley Cup playoffs, but they do get bonuses for reffing in the postseason.

Officials get a flat rate no matter how many games they officiate and are limited to seven games per round. However, in this year's playoffs, there has been no ref with more than five games. Standards call for one standby official in case of emergencies or injuries as well.

So what is the flat rate?

How overpaid is the officiating according to Scouting the Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs on Twitter):

In comparison, a referee earns between an average of $4,000 and $5,000 per game in the regular season, based on their annual salary. From Scouting The Refs:

"Regular season salaries depend on years of service in the NHL. First-year officials start at just over $200,000 for referees and $137,000 for linesmen, increasing each year. A 15-year referee would earn $430,000 this season, while a linesman with 15 years of service would draw $228,000."

Officials even get playoff retirement bonuses for how many playoff games they officiate.

"Each official shall be entitled to a retirement bonus calculated as follows: (1) referees shall be entitled to a payment of $27,000 USD times the number of playoff games worked in his career divided by sixty (60); and (2) linesmen shall be entitled to a payment of $17,250 USD times the number of playoff games worked in his career divided by sixty (60)."

With how the officiating has been in recent years and how careless rule enforcement is, how long will the game management go on? NHL refs have made game-changing decisions in round one so far, and there needs to be a correction sooner or later, as it affects the integrity of the game.

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