NHL Cracks The Whip - Crack Down On Policy Enforcement By: Jennifer Kate
Well, guys, I'm excited to be back with more NHL content because we don't have too much of this here, so let's get right into the topic of this blog, and it's a good one because the NHL is finally cracking down on enforcing policies and not looking foolish for just giving players a slap on the wrist. But before we get into the meat and potatoes of this blog, let me quickly introduce myself to those of you who might be new here. My name is Jennifer Kate, a Blogger here at the Empty The Bench Podcast Network.
Alright, let's get right into the whole policy crackdown situation. For those of you who may not know about this situation, let me explain. Shane Pinto of the Ottawa Senators has been suspended 41 games for violating the league's gambling rule. According to a statement made by the league, it's the league's first gambling-related suspension since online gambling began. But according to the league, he never bet on the NHL and considers this a matter closed. Pinto has released a statement, and i will share it with you now: "I want to apologize to the National Hockey League, The Ottawa Senators, my teammates, the fans, and most importantly, my family." He continued, "I take full responsibility for my actions and look forward to getting back on the ice with my team." For those of you who don't know hockey, let me just quickly give you an idea of just how long this suspension is; the NHL season is only 82 games, and he will miss 41, so half of an entire season which is crazy if you ask me I understand they had to make an example out of him, but I think that's far too many games.
Pinto is a restricted free agent and has yet to sign a new deal. Pinto has yet to play in any games in the 2023-2024 season. Let’s get into this because according to the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, players cannot bet on NHL games but can bet on other sports if they want to. But according to CBS they clearly stated that he did not bet on an NHL game, so I don't understand how he could get a 41-game suspension. I have a weird feeling that his number of games will either be lessened or overturned completely. According to the article, it is currently unknown how he violated the NHL's gambling rule. I would like to know what he bet on that caused this because I smell something fishy going on here, and it's all thanks to our 'fearless' leader, Gary Bettman.
But that's about it for this blog. Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know on social media your thoughts about this suspension and if they do release any further updates, I will be sure to keep you guys updated. But thank you so much for reading, I will catch you guys in the next one.