from Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star,
“Nobody says bad things any more,” says Komarov.
“Everyone is a little more aware that the walls have ears,” adds teammate Nazem Kadri. “Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, guys get passionate, it’s going to happen. But not as much as it used to.”
NHL senior vice-president Colin Campbell confirmed to the Star that the league is trying to clean up the language “across the board.”
“And, giving the players credit, they are much more in touch with what they can and can’t say today. They know that they are being monitored in every possible way today,” said Campbell....
Greg Millen, the former goalie and now TV analyst who sits between the benches on telecasts, says he’s noticed a decline in trash talk.
“It seems like it’s down,” said Millen. “I haven’t heard as much bantering going on.”
Players receive sensitivity training as part of the NHL Players’ Association’s rookie orientation program and the league is using its on-ice officials to remind players about language.
“There are microphones everywhere,” says former player Steve Yzerman, now general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. “We see it every day, whether it’s hockey or around the world. What was said 20 years ago isn’t acceptable. Not that it was acceptable then, it was tolerated.
“You have to watch what you say. That’s probably a good thing.”
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