In a surprising revelation, New York Islanders forward Matt Barzal has confessed to engaging in betting activities during the All-Star skills competition, which could land him in hot water with the NHL's stringent rules on sports gambling.
This development comes on the heels of the substantial suspension handed down to Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto, who received a 41-game ban for a similar offense back in October. Pinto only recently made his season debut two weeks ago.
According to Mark Masters of TSN, Barzal openly admitted to placing a bet on the accuracy contest, where he challenged Toronto Maple Leafs standout Auston Matthews.
"I threw $100 on it. Yeah, probably not the smartest bet for me to go head-to-head with him in a shooting competition. He's a student of the game. I love the game as well, so we were just messing around."
While Barzal's admission may appear harmless at first glance, it raises important concerns about adherence to league policies and the severity of their enforcement.
This disclosure also prompts questions about potential repercussions for Barzal moving forward.