What Travis Dermott did this weekend took guts. Now, many want to know if that act of courage has forced the NHL’s hand.
The Arizona Coyotes defenseman sported Pride tape on his stick ahead of Saturday’s home opener against the Anaheim Ducks, becoming to first player to rock the rainbow since the league banned it earlier this month. While the NHL initially told The Athletic it would “review” Dermott’s actions, there has been nothing but crickets thus far from a league that is usually swift in handing out punishment.
Is Dermott’s decision to defy the rules pressuring the NHL to reverse course and eliminate the very new but widely unpopular ban?