NHL NOTES: Diversity alliance critical of league's latest 'laughable' venture (2024)

If people are a little confused by the launching of another NHL inclusion effort, they’ve got nothing on the Hockey Diversity Alliance.

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The outspoken group of players — formed three years ago with the goal of “eradicating systematic racism and intolerance in hockey” and to “inspire a new and diverse generation of hockey players and fans” — thought at the time it was in partnership with the league. Thus it was shocked when the league announced its Player Inclusion Coalition at last week’s draft in Nashville.

The latter is chaired by former players-turned-broadcasters Anson Carter and P.K. Subban with prominent female players and hockey personalities and a $1-million kick-start donation from the league and the players association for grassroots initiatives. But in a statement released Wednesday and in an interview with The Associated Press, the HDA contended the league has ignored its efforts in that area to portray itself as leading the cause.

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“As the NHL has done so many times, they’re late to the party and they still want to show that they want to be involved in the dance,” said HDA co-founder Akim Aliu. “This is their way of showing that this is their bigger and better thing. But I think everyone that’s on the inside of hockey knows what’s really going on and really knows that this is just another facade.”

The HDA, whose members also include active NHLers Matt Dumba and Anthony Duclair, issued a statement this week that said in part the new league committee is “laudable on its face, laughable in full context of the work we have been doing for three years without the league’s support. The coalition’s mission statement does not echo the HDA’s goals so much as cynically attempt to appropriate them.”

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The HDA has gained its own major sponsors, such as Scotiabank, Budweiser, Canadian Tire and Kraft-Heinz.

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The Boston Bruins and Seattle Kraken led the way with three players each filing for salary arbitration at the 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline among 22 leaguewide. Jeremy Swayman, part of Boston’s Jennings Trophy-winning tandem with Linus Ullmark, was joined by forward Trent Frederic and defenceman Ian Mitchell. Vince Dunn, Cal Fleury and Will Borgen are the Kraken who filed. Two Winnipeg Jets, Morgan Barron and Gabriel Vilardi, did likewise, though the club reached an agreement on a two-year extension with defenceman Dylan Samberg at a $1.4-million average annual value … BetOnline.ag has established forward Connor Bedard as the strong favourite to win the 2024 Calder Trophy. The No. 1 overall pick for the Chicago Blackhawks a week ago is at 1/3 odds or minus-300. Then comes Adam Fantilli of the Blue Jackets at 4/1, who was actually chosen behind Leo Carlsson of Anaheim, who checks in at 6/1. Montreal defenceman David Reinbacher is at 33/1 and at the very back at 100/1 is Toronto’s 28th overall selection, Easton Cowan, who is expected to return to the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights … After a rather rough introduction when Carey Price flubbed his name on the draft stage and many Canadiens fans panned his getting picked at fifth overall, Reinbacher is feeling a lot more secure. Following a good developmental camp with the team, the 6-foot-2 Austrian signed his three-year entry level contract on Wednesday … Unrestricted free-agent forward Vladimir Tarasenko might not be headed to the Carolina Hurricanes after all. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Wednesday that Tarasenko has changed agents after as many as six teams, including his last employers, the New York Rangers, pursued him. Tarasenko had 25 points in 38 games, including the playoffs, with New York, though it can’t likely afford him without shedding salary … Forward Filip Zadina, the sixth overall pick by Detroit in 2018, cleared waivers after a hoped-for trade did not occur … Kris Draper has been promoted to assistant general manager of the Red Wings by Steve Yzerman, but will continue to lead the club’s amateur scouting bureau … Jonathon Sherman, son of the late Barry and Honey Sherman, is donating $50 million for the construction of a new community arena on Bathurst St. in Vaughan to be named in his parents’ memory. The double ice pad with an opening slated for 2025 will be about “celebrating my parents’ legacy of community leadership,” Jonathon told the Canadian Jewish News … Former NHLer Glen Metropolit continues to give back to his old neighbourhood in Toronto’s inner-city Regent Park. On Tuesday, he’s hosting an all-day ball hockey clinic on the RP Athletic Grounds … Patric Hornqvist, a two-time Cup champion with the Penguins, is retiring at age 36. He was most recently with Florida and hoping for a comeback from a head injury.

lhornby@postmedia.com

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