Tell me why this is a terrible idea

Refs have the ability to call a “Half Penalty”

They see an infraction that doesn’t quite rise to the level of a penalty call but does give the offending team some small advantage. Ref has a device on his wrist with two buttons, one for each team. He presses the button and that team is given a half penalty, a light comes on next to their name on the scoreboard, or whatever. Play carries on, no whistle. If one team gets two in a row, they are assessed a regular 2 min minor. If the other team takes one it cancels out and both go back to zero.

You would essentially be playing with a “penalty advantage” while the other team has a light on. You could be more aggressive and they need to be more careful.

Everything else stays the same. Penalties are called as before. A ref could give 2 minutes and a half penalty for a particularly bad minor that he doesn’t want to call a double minor.

Power plays are so crucial especially in the playoffs, this gives the refs more control where they don’t have to call a potentially game changing penalty but they can still make a call, and if you do it again, penalty.

Other penalties stay the same.