At least 8 NHL teams take exception with NHL memo about Pride

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Josh Tupper
October 8, 2023 (12:51)

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Earlier this summer the NHL announced that the league would stop all theme nights for the upcoming season. The idea of the cancellation was to avoid putting players in awkward positions based on their personal/religious beliefs. Now it appears that some teams are taking issue with a recent memo that was sent out by the league.

According to Ryan S. Clark of ESPN, some teams have been left confused by the wording of a recent memo, even calling it too restrictive.

NEWS: The NHL sent an updated memo to teams Thursday clarifying what they can do this season with special initiatives such as Pride Night.

A source told ESPN that several teams sought clarity as the first memo was deemed to be confusing and restrictive.

The memo is as follows:

More than eight teams, the source said, raised concerns about part of the memo that stated, "Players shall not be put in the position of having to demonstrate (or where they may be appearing to demonstrate) personal support for any Special Initiatives. A factor that may be considered in this regard includes, for example, whether a Player (or Players) is required to be in close proximity to any groups or individuals visibly or otherwise clearly associated with such Special Initiative(s)

The wording itself doesn't make clarify anything and the NHL is basically saying that players aren't allowed to stand by causes they believe in on a personal level, whatever that may be.

The NHL should clarify this statement because as it stands, this doesn't make them look good.