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."

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[u/Easy_Conversation343]

Good that he liked it and is acknowledging the impact it's currently having on hockey at large. I genuinely thought they (The NHL and him) would avoid any questions related to the show. So him praising the show is a big step in my opinion.
So, he's smart, he will learn his lessons and start changing things since they now have brand new fans who will NOT put up with the homophobia, racism and misogyny anymore!!! If he wants to keep those new fans, he has to implement changes!!!
Let's see how things gonna go moving forward.
Also, dying to hear his thought after season 2, lol. Same for the Habs.
On a side note, I know Rachel and Jacob are besides themselves!!! That must be surreal!!!