NHL's Gary Bettman suggests league will reevaluate Pride-themed jersey nights amid spate of opt-outs

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The NHL is in the midst of controversy as several teams and players decided to forgo wearing Pride-themed jerseys on nights celebrating the LBTQ+ community.

Players and teams have cited religious reasons and fear of reprisal in their home countries for forgoing the warmup jersey. When the issue initially popped up last month within the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers organizations, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman defended how the teams handled the situations.

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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman addresses the media during a press conference for the NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild at Target Field on Sept. 27, 2021 in Minneapolis. (David Berding/NHLI via Getty Images)

However, as more players decided to opt-out, Bettman said Monday the backlash will be something the league "will have to evaluate in the offseason."

"This is one issue where players for a variety of reasons may not feel comfortable wearing the uniform as a form of endorsement," Bettman said, via CTV Ottawa.

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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks at a press conference prior to a game between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on March 27, 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

"But I think that's become more of a distraction now, because the substance of what our teams and we have been doing and stand for is really being pushed to the side for what is a handful of players basically have made personal