Connor McDavid isnB次元官网网址檛 a fan of the NHLB次元官网网址檚 new policy on themed warmup jerseys.

The league decided last week teams wonB次元官网网址檛 wear special pre-game threads next season B次元官网网址� the result of a handful of players refusing to sport rainbow-coloured Pride jerseys in 2022-23, which in turn caused unwelcome distractions.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 disappointing to see,B次元官网网址� McDavid, the face of the NHL and the superstar captain of the Edmonton Oilers, said at Monday nightB次元官网网址檚 awards ceremony.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not my call, but obviously itB次元官网网址檚 disappointing.B次元官网网址�

The leagueB次元官网网址檚 board of governors agreed with commissioner Gary BettmanB次元官网网址檚 view that the jersey refusals overshadowed teamsB次元官网网址� efforts in hosting Pride nights.

All 32 franchises held a Pride or B次元官网网址淗ockey is for EveryoneB次元官网网址� night in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

B次元官网网址淚 certainly canB次元官网网址檛 speak for every organization,B次元官网网址� said McDavid, who won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. B次元官网网址淚 know in Edmonton, we were one of the first teams to use the Pride tape.

B次元官网网址淲e strongly feel hockey is for everybody, and that includes the Pride nights.B次元官网网址�

Teams will still celebrate Pride and other theme nights, including military appreciation and Hockey Fights Cancer. Clubs are also expected to continue designing and producing jerseys to be autographed and sold to raise money, even though players wonB次元官网网址檛 wear them during warmups.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said it was disappointing that the story this season was the few players who decided against wearing Pride jerseys.

B次元官网网址淚t was 98 per cent or 99 per cent of other players that wore the jersey and enjoyed wearing it and were proud wearing it B次元官网网址� whatever jersey it was B次元官网网址� whether it was the Pride, the military night, the cancer nights,B次元官网网址� said Stamkos, who won the Mark Messier Leadership Award. B次元官网网址淭he story shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be about the guy that didnB次元官网网址檛 wear it B次元官网网址� the one guy or the two guys.

B次元官网网址淚 understand thatB次元官网网址檚 what gets the clicks and thatB次元官网网址檚 what gets the views, but the word B次元官网网址榙istractionB次元官网网址� gets thrown around. I donB次元官网网址檛 think it had to have been a distraction. It could have been a non-issue while focusing on the good that was coming out of those nights.B次元官网网址�

Bettman defended the league and teamsB次元官网网址� handling of the situations at NHL all-star weekend in February, saying tolerance of varying viewpoints was part of being B次元官网网址渙pen, welcoming and inclusive.B次元官网网址�

Seven players decided not to take part in warmups when their teams sported Pride jerseys before games. A few teams also chose to not have players wear them after planning to do so.

B次元官网网址淎ll the attention was taken away from the right reasons,B次元官网网址� said Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund, who won the King Clancy Award. B次元官网网址淎ll of us were wearing the jerseys B次元官网网址� everyone was looking (at), B次元官网网址榃hoB次元官网网址檚 not and why not?B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 understand the decision the NHL made to take that distraction away. Teams can still have their nights B次元官网网址� their special nights B次元官网网址� and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 a good thing.B次元官网网址�

Ivan Provorov, a Russian defenceman then with Philadelphia, was the first NHLer to refuse to wear a Pride-themed warmup jersey in January, citing his religion.

San Jose goaltender James Reimer, and brothers Eric and Marc Staal of Florida, who are all Canadian, also cited religious beliefs. Russian players Ilya Lyubushkin of Buffalo, Denis Gurianov of Montreal and Andrei Kuzmenko of Vancouver all opted out of their teamsB次元官网网址� Pride night warmups.

Lyubushkin pointed to an anti-gay Kremlin law, which was also why the Chicago Blackhawks decided against Pride night jerseys. The New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild earlier opted against the jerseys after previously advertising they would have them.

B次元官网网址淓veryone has their beliefs, and I canB次元官网网址檛 speak on those,B次元官网网址� McDavid said. B次元官网网址淎ll I can speak for is myself and us in Edmonton. I know we strongly support those type of nights.B次元官网网址�

Sergei Bobrovsky, who is Russian, took part in warmups the night the Staal brothers declined and in the aftermath of several countrymen deciding not to wear Pride jerseys.

B次元官网网址淚t was tough to see that some guys didnB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� said Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Kris Letang, who won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication. B次元官网网址淚 understand sometimes why they didnB次元官网网址檛, but to me, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean that youB次元官网网址檙e fully supporting or not supporting it.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just to make our sport accessible to everybody.B次元官网网址�

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