McDavid calls NHL's decision to end themed jerseys 'disappointing'
The NHL's MVP doesn't approve of the league's new policy against themed jerseys, including those players previously donned for Pride nights.
Connor McDavid expressed his disapproval of the change after winning the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award for the third and fourth time, respectively, on Monday night.
"I certainly can't speak for every organization," he said. "I know in Edmonton, we were one of the first teams to use the Pride tape. In our dressing room, we strongly feel hockey is for everybody, and that includes the Pride nights and stuff like that. So of course, it's disappointing to see."
The Edmonton Oilers captain emphasized that it's not his call, but he reiterated his disappointment and added that he and his team have always backed specialty nights.
"Everyone has their beliefs, and I can't speak on those. All I can speak for is myself and us in Edmonton, and I know we strongly support those type(s) of nights," McDavid said.
Last week, the NHL said its players won't wear specialty jerseys for pregame warmups on themed nights next season, although teams can still design and produce the jerseys.
Seven players - beginning with Ivan Provorov and followed by James Reimer, Eric and Marc Staal, Ilya Lyubushkin, Denis Gurianov, and Andrei Kuzmenko - refused to wear Pride jerseys during pregame warmups this past season.
Teams will still hold nights to highlight various causes - including Pride, military appreciation, and Hockey Fights Cancer - but the league's board of governors agreed with commissioner Gary Bettman when he said several players choosing not to wear Pride jerseys overshadowed the clubs' efforts to host the events.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos disagreed with the notion that the refusals were a distraction when asked about it Monday night.
"It was 98% or 99% of other players that wore the jersey and enjoyed wearing it and were proud wearing it - whatever jersey it was - whether it was the Pride, the military night, the cancer nights," Stamkos said, according to the Canadian Press' Joshua Clipperton. "The story shouldn't be about the guy that didn't wear it - the one guy or the two guys.
"I understand that's what gets the clicks and that's what gets the views, but the word 'distraction' gets thrown around. I don't 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."