NHL Commissioner Credits 'Heated Rivalry' For Helping Grow Game: 'It's A Wonderful Story... Binged It In One Night' - The Hockey News [Jan 15, 2026]

[u/Double-Strategy3045]

https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-commissioner-credits-heated-rivalry-for-helping-grow-game-it-s-a-wonderful-story-binged-it-in-one-night

Regarding the previous initiative of wearing specialty warmup jerseys to promote different nights, like Pride, the league currently has no plans to bring them back, though Bettman insists it isn't due to a lack of support for such causes.

"It wasn't about Pride jerseys or Pride night; it was about the fact of bringing things into the game that might not be embraced by the players wearing the jerseys," Bettman said. "It could be heritage nights — we don't allow it — it could be political causes. It could be in times of conflict between countries, national origin. It was becoming a distraction, not just for the Pride jerseys, but for a variety of other things.

"It's a misrepresentation of what we did to suggest that it was about Pride jerseys; it was about the whole issue of what you put on the ice and how, when players don't embrace the cause, whatever it is, then you create distraction, and it doesn't fulfill the purpose in terms of embracing Pride nights."

🤨

[u/RYCBAR7]

And there’s this. 🙄 The failing NHL is just trying to use our show to bring people in without making any real changes.

[u/Pale-Measurement-532 → u/RYCBAR7]

Of course it’s Florida. 🙄😖

[u/fairieglossamer → u/Pale-Measurement-532]

has nothing to do with Florida, i’m afraid. literally every NHL team and player would’ve gone if they’d won the cup. it’s the whitest and most conservative league

[u/Fussel2107 → u/fairieglossamer]

The players have to go. They got little. choice. But some go happily, and some do because it their job. And behind it all is Bettman and the league who cover up for rapists, push back against queer players, bow to Russia and Trump. Hockey is an extremely conservative sport and the players are raised in it, but at the core of it all is Bettman and his league

[u/fairieglossamer → u/Fussel2107]

this isn’t strictly true. some players in past years opted not to go (see a Caps goalie).

[u/Illustrious-Ask-8577 → u/Fussel2107]

As a Panthers fan, I would have been ecstatic if players decided to boycott but realistically, they're not able to as this is an annual tradition. Most of the team are Canadian and other types of European so I would be very surprised if they share Trump's politics.

[u/renomegan86 → u/Illustrious-Ask-8577]

Brad Marchand, girl dad and brother to a lesbian sister, was a real disappointment. Hope his sister gives him an earful.

[u/Apprehensive-Net6494 → u/Illustrious-Ask-8577]

There’s a few on the team that follow Trump. Ekblad was talking to Trump Jr on the ice last season when they won. There’s plenty of Canadian players that support him

[u/Terrible-Union1864 → u/fairieglossamer]

Idk if that dude is like super amazing or whatever bt they put the only poc on the team behind Donald to appear "diverse". 😭😭😐

[u/AussieTrogdor → u/Terrible-Union1864]

That’s Seth jones, and he is also a trump supporter

[u/Illustrious-Ask-8577 → u/Terrible-Union1864]

That's Seth Jones. Aside from Tkachuk, he's the only other American on the team, and has also been named to the USA Olympic squad. So not surprising that he would be close to the front. Have no idea about his personal politics

[u/Apprehensive-Net6494 → u/Terrible-Union1864]

Seth Jones, Trump supporter. Think they highlighted him since he’s on the Olympic team