Why Nashville Predators' Pride Night will look different tonight

The Nashville Predators will hold their ninth annual "Pride Night" on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets, but this year's event will look a little different.

Last season, Predators players wore Pride Night-themed jerseys in warmups, which were later auctioned off through the team's foundation. There won't be that opportunity this time.

"It's kind of disappointing we can't wear the jerseys," captain Roman Josi said. "But it's an important night for us, hopefully we can make people feel as included as possible."

Controversy erupted across the league last year after some players elected not to wear the Pride Night warmup jerseys. In June 2023, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said teams will no longer be allowed to wear themed warmup jerseys of any kind.

There was no controversy in Nashville last season, as all Predators players wore Pride-themed jerseys during warmups. Many cited the importance of wearing the jerseys, which symbolize inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community and work in tandem with the NHL's "Hockey is for Everyone" initiative.

Tyson Barrie, who has been a public supporter of Pride Night and the inclusion movement, says there are far more players in support of the movement than those opposed to it.

"I know in this room and in rooms across the NHL, guys are very supportive of Pride Night. You see that in interviews, how they express themselves on social media," he said. "I'll be doing whatever I can to support and show pride."

Barrie added he hopes anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community doesn't view removing Pride Night warmup jerseys as suggesting the players aren't supportive.

"(Last year) people got to see how many guys are supportive of it," he said. "It's a big, big part of our game."

The Predators — with the only openly gay player under NHL contract, Luke Prokop, who currently plays for the Atlanta Gladiators in the ECHL — still will have elements Tuesday that celebrate Pride Night, including themed giveaways, merchandise, pregame entertainment on the plaza and in-game entertainment.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Pride Night will look different for Nashville Predators this year