This is no time to be keeping score on social justice leadership, so let’s not dwell on the obvious: That the NBA and WNBA have longer, stronger histories of political action than the NHL, up to and including this week.
Rather, consider the import of NHL players’ push to delay the already drastically delayed playoffs, beginning with the postponement of Thursday night’s Game 3 of the Islanders’ second-round series against the Flyers.
Why does it matter? It matters because it illustrates the breadth of athletes’ desire to be heard on an issue that traditionally has fallen by default to Black players.