Toews Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Quote NHL Commissioner: We will not tolerate abusive behavior MONTEREY, Calif. (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Monday that the league will work swiftly to make changes to better deal with personnel conduct issues in the wake of incidents that surfaced in recent weeks. Speaking at the end of the first day of the Board of Governors meeting at the Inn at Spanish Bay resort in Pebble Beach, Bettman told reporters that NHL personnel will be required to attend mandatory counseling regarding racism and anti-bullying. Bettman also talked about the formation of a hotline for people to call to report any such incidents. “Inclusion and diversity are not simply buzz words. They are foundational principles of the NHL,” Bettman said. “Our message is unequivocal: We will not tolerate abusive behavior of any kind.” Bettman’s comments were his first publicly since former NHL player Akim Aliu alleged that former Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters previously directed racial slurs toward him while in the minor leagues a decade ago. Peters, who has also been accused of physical abuse while coaching Carolina, resigned following the accusations by Aliu. While Bettman said that the NHL is conducting its own review of the Peters-Aliu situation, the commissioner made it clear that there will be zero tolerance from the league moving forward. To that end, Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Board of Governors about a multi-point plan designed to curb any further issues while allowing coaches to still do their job. “Professionalism and respect have been important to this league but it is now a particularly important time to discuss it because everyone is entitled to a respectful workplace,” Bettman said. Included in the proposed plan: ● Teams will be required to immediately report any incidents of inappropriate behavior by club personnel that has been brought to their attention. Failure to do so will result in “severe discipline,” according to Bettman. ● Swift and severe punishment for those involved in any future or past incidents that are brought to the NHL’s attention. ● A mandatory annual counseling program that all NHL coaches, assistant coaches, minor league coaches, general managers and assistant general managers must attend. The program, which will be created by professionals in the field outside of the NHL, will focus on consciousness-raising, education and training on diversity and inclusion. The players association and coaches association will be consulted in the formation of the program as well. ● The formation of a disciplinary counsel that will be run under the direction of NHL executive vice-president Kim Davis. Bettman also spoke about the possibility of creating a hotline for people to call to report incidents of abuse, racism or other things that might fall into a ‘grey area’ as Bettman referred to it. “We understand the critical importance that no one is retaliated against for raising a concern or participating in an investigation. I guarantee we will take all reports seriously and follow up,” Bettman said. Aliu accused Peters of using racial slurs while the two were with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League from 2008-10. Bettman said he spoke with the Board of Governors regarding the code of conduct plan and received full support. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2019/12/09/nhl-commissioner-we-will-not-tolerate-abusive-behavior/40791125/ Hopefully the effect of this trickles down to the youth level where it is probably more needed than the pros. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 I like the idea, but I'm real concerned some plug's going to falsely accuse the coach due to not getting enough playoff time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6string Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 It's not a perfect world. I'm more concerned about linesmen stepping into fights sooner than they have to. ( I'm not replying. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down by the River Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 I came into the thread thinking this would just be a bunch of legalese from Bettman. Whether you agree with the plan or not, I was surprised to see the NHL appearing to take real action. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Let's get some a'dat humanity 'round here, eh? 'Cept the Laffs, who're a buncha' animals. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuckin_futz Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 (edited) From the article on The Score ............... " Lastly, the NHL will create a platform - "perhaps a hotline," according to Bettman - on which incidents of inappropriate conduct connected to the league can be reported either anonymously or for attribution. " ******************** I don't know if an anonymous "snitch line" is a good idea. Edited December 10, 2019 by nuckin_futz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post NewbieCanuckFan Posted December 10, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 10, 2019 How about Buttman abusing the Canadian fans? 1 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckylager Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 25 minutes ago, nuckin_futz said: From the article on The Score ............... " Lastly, the NHL will create a platform - "perhaps a hotline," according to Bettman - on which incidents of inappropriate conduct connected to the league can be reported either anonymously or for attribution. " ******************** I don't know if an anonymous "snitch line" is a good idea. I'd use it to complain about refs. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
189lb enforcers? Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Coach cam 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Agree or disagree, at the very least it sounds like the NHL is serious about doing something. What actually happens remains to be seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rounoush Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 1 hour ago, King Heffy said: I like the idea, but I'm real concerned some plug's going to falsely accuse the coach due to not getting enough playoff time. Of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rounoush Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 This is all kinds of cringe. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Thanks Gary for white knighting here. Pardon my French, but NHL has lost it's balls. No more fights, players complaining that they're not treated nicely by their coaches, everybody jumping on this social media bandwagon to be a part of the MeToo movement, no more hard hits in the game without someone taking offense only to have the linesmen tackle them... very hard to be a fan of the league, I can only be a fan of the Canucks at the moment. Yes, we don't like people treating other people badly. Great, it didn't take a rocket scientist to come to that conclusion. You had guys like Patt Quinn and many others that operated that way for a long long time. This is not some systematic problem, it's a problem between some players and some asshole coaches. Deal with it in person, stop airing all this dirty laundry in the media and hoping to bury people's careers because things didn't go your way. Okay I'm done with ranting on this subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the grinder Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 I am sure, the nhl will run it just like " the department of player safety " 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrockBoester Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 1 hour ago, NewbieCanuckFan said: How about Buttman abusing the Canadian fans? Yeah that's what I was going to say, isn't Bettman rigging the league and discriminating against Canadian teams a prime example of abuse? 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the grinder Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 what about the players slagging the coaches in ride shares? is that included in the program ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the grinder Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 1 hour ago, 189lb enforcers? said: Coach cam ya like nhl 24/7 all season long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Korea Bob.Loblaw Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 51 minutes ago, Coconuts said: Agree or disagree, at the very least it sounds like the NHL is serious about doing something. What actually happens remains to be seen. One of the greatest campaign failures in sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whaleroad Train Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Bettman will not tolerate abusive behaviour? He's been flogging a number of dead horses for years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MystifyNCrucify Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Id like to formally report the abuse canadian teams have suffered since bettman came to the league. The emotional abuse of having to witness incompetent (and in some cases biased) reffing that seems to be getting worse..... Actually you know what, im not gonna delve into this can of worms, that bettman just opened. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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