Shortly before games were scheduled to begin on Tuesday afternoon, the National Hockey League announced that they needed to change the hockey pucks they were using. Seriously:
Statement from the @NHL regarding tracking pucks. https://t.co/uovJ97eBpk pic.twitter.com/m5D0XXS1CV
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 19, 2021
I just…Could you even imagine if the NFL needed to change all the footballs? No, you can’t, because the NFL is a well-oiled machine that essentially can just print money for itself because of years upon years of knowing how to operate. This wouldn’t be such a big deal, just using the old pucks, if this wasn’t such a complete “NHL” move by the NHL.
A league that is routinely behind the times in so many different ways, whether it’s embracing analytics and technology or using their platforms to provide support of social justice initiatives, the league has fumbled and bungled their way through the changing landscapes of sports. This is just another stumbling block that we’ve come to expect and accept as fans who watch the NHL.
NHL player to ESPN, on the batch of "tracking pucks" the league is dumping: They were “terrible” and “don’t slide.”
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 19, 2021
The imbedded pucks, which were being used to provide tracking data to help better analyze the flow and movement of the game, were apparently not up to the same standard as the regular, non-technology infused pucks used just months ago during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Enough people complain, now we’re changing the pucks. At this point, you just have to throw your hands to the side and laugh.
Now watch the Blackhawks go out and hang a dozen goals on the Panthers tonight.