The NHL on Wednesday issued a social media policy for players and club personnel. The new regulations call for a total "blackout period" on the use of social media on game days, which for players begins two hours prior to opening faceoff and is not lifted until players have finished their postgame media obligations. For hockey operations staff, the suggested blackout period begins at 11:00am on game days. Discipline is possible for any social media statements that have or are designed to have a prejudicial effect on the NHL, the game itself, a member club or the officiating staff. The policy was collectively bargained with the NHLPA and takes effect immediately (NHL). The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts reports Coyotes LW Paul Bissonnette, the NHL's "leading tweeter among the players, told his 132,000 followers he approves of the policy." Bissonnette said, "I don't even play much and I don't tweet on game days. Plenty of off days." Shoalts notes while criticizing game officials is "out of bounds," the league's referees and linesmen "are not allowed to use any social media" (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/16). Capitals D John Carlson said, "I don't (tweet before games) anyway. If some people are doing it, I don't necessarily think it's a good idea, anyway. I remember Ochocinco getting fined for tweeting things during a game by the Bengals, and that's something that doesn't need to happen" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 9/15). YAHOO SPORTS' Greg Wyshynski wrote every player and team's "approach to social media is different." Most Twitter feeds "are monitored by team public relations staffers (such as Bissonnette's) but written by the players." Other feeds, "especially for prospects with fewer followers, only come into focus for team personnel when they say or do something that causes a stir" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/15). In Vancouver, Cam Cole writes the new rules "aren't terribly restrictive," as they "just prohibit players tweeting or posting on Facebook before, during and after games or during practices, which isn't really a problem, anyway" (VANCOUVER SUN, 9/16).
