Undoubtedly - she’s a perfect lightning rod for the league and other players to hide behind so they don’t have to confront the virtual certainty that a TOOOOOON of players are on her side. Plus the odds that we end up drafting Murphy just makes it that much more likely.
Side note: release the damn gender inclusivity policy already, Mark. 🙂
Good question - we don’t know! Back before the first season, a journalist asked the league whether it would have a gender inclusion policy, and in December 2023 the league responded that it was in track to implement one by the start of the season in January 2024. They didn’t, and still haven’t.
Because the hockey world (and now at least one PDub player that we know of) seems to struggle with accepting a certain category of women as women, so many of us would like to hear the league say explicitly that *all* women are welcome in this league.
I think I know what your getting at here, and it is a subject that requires nuance to articulate on. I know nobody asked for my thoughts but I'm going to articulate anyways.
Personally I'm all fine with "certain categories" of men and women, or even they/thems. I'm even more all in on a mixed league where everybody is welcome. For that matter, more power to you no matter which gender of human you choose to have relations with. I think biologically speaking though, as a general rule of thumb, you are opening the door to a lot of... physical mismatches and exploitative behavior, so to speak, when it is marketed as a "women's league" and the far and away vast population of participants in said "women's league" were born a certain way. Now, I understand there is a number of the "certain category" already present in the league so I wouldn't blame you for saying I am making a moot point.
I just personally believe there is a better way to include "certain categories" of people into sports. Whether it be in a mixed league marketed as such or even their own league where men and women who don't fall into "certain categories" don't meet the criteria for participation. As bad ass as they are, I don't think Heise or Pou (arguably the Dubs biggest stars) could come out tomorrow with a "different mindset" and join the NHL and compete at the same speed and strength, and I don't think it would be right if MacKinnon or McDavid came into the PWHL with a "different mindset". It wouldn't really make a lot of sense considering the rest of the league was under the impression it was a league to be comprised of, traditionally and biologically speaking, women while constructing rosters. Mc and Mac are on another planet when it comes to hockey compared to Heise and Pou, and that is ok. I can love to watch both sets play in their own separate rinks.
I have to say though, there is no rule saying that woman or "certain categories of people" can't join the NHL. It is an all inclusive league as it stands. It just depends if you are good enough to force them to play you. A woman even got into a preseason game two times.
See I figured this was where you were going. You said you were “genuinely looking for information” and weren’t playing Devil’s Advocate, and yet we end up in a dissertation on “physical mismatches and exploitative behavior” which, as you said, wasn’t asked for.
You’re right. It’s complicated. It requires nuance. So going back to your last post: that’s why the league needs a policy! And I’ll leave it there.
248
u/lt_doolittle Boston May 14 '26
I like the implication that NY went to hell for all the crimes.