Canceling games was apparently something the NHL was not prepared to do on short noticeGETTY IMAGES
The NHL “decided to go ahead with its schedule” last night while other pro leagues canceled some or all of their scheduled games in response to the Jacob Blake shooting, according to Derek Van Diest of the TORONTO SUN. It appears that canceling games was something the NHL was "not prepared to do, particularly on such short notice.” The Islanders-Flyers game was underway when the Bucks boycotted their game against the Magic, but the remaining two games took place well afterward. The NHL “settled on a moment of reflection” prior to Bruins-Lightning that “urged for an end to racism.” Stars C Tyler Seguin said that there “weren’t any serious discussions with his teammates on not playing.” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar added, “If even one player had come to me and said, ‘hey I don’t think we should play,’ then we would have addressed it as a team. But I never got word from anyone from our room” (TORONTO SUN, 8/27). In Tampa, Mari Faiello notes while there was a “moment of silence for Blake and his family with ‘End Racism’ and ‘We Skate for Black Lives’ flashing on the video boards” prior to Bruins-Lightning, there “wasn’t a moment of silence” prior to the start of Stars-Avalanche later in the night (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/27).
A MATTER OF TIMING: ESPN.com's Emily Kaplan notes both Bruins and Lightning players indicated that they "found out about the NBA and other sports leagues' postponing games only when they got to the rink in Toronto." They said that they "didn't have sufficient time to discuss following suit." Bruins D Zdeno Chara said, "It was so close to our game that we were just getting ready." Lightning players also said that they "didn't have serious conversations about boycotting Wednesday's game because they found out about the NBA boycotts very close to puck drop." Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said that he "would have been '100 percent behind' his players if they had decided to sit out Wednesday" (ESPN.com, 8/27). Cassidy added, “I don’t know if there was discussion among the players, to be perfectly honest with you" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/27).
BAD LOOK FOR LEAGUE? In Toronto, Kevin McGran writes it seems like the NHL “passed the buck here.” McGran: “Instead of making the call on their own, they let the players make the call. That meant the players had to answer why they decided to play, instead of the league answering questions about why they didn’t play.” It was “not a good look for a league that says it wants to do better, but doesn’t actually know how to do better” (TORONTO STAR, 8/27). THE ATHLETIC’s Scott Burnside writes under the header, “NHL Botched A Chance To Be Part Of Achieving Racial Justice.” The NHL committed just 27 seconds last night “to acknowledge what happened to Blake.” Burnside: “On a night that many were calling historic as professional athletes and leagues ceased their games in protest of social injustice and police brutality, the NHL seemed small, puny and inconsequential by comparison” (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/27). In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont writes the NHL “had a chance to be a real player in the ongoing social justice discussion,” but it “really looked like it was living life in a bubble.” Dupont: “The NHL will have to remember that on Wednesday, Aug., 26, 2020, it took the path of least resistance” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/27). In Minneapolis, Jim Souhan notes NBA, WNBA, MLB and MLS games were all postponed, while the NHL “threw a few words on a scoreboard” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/27).
