In an odd turn of events, New York Islanders forward Matt Barzal has admitted to participating in betting during the All-Star skills competition, which could put him at odds with the NHL's strict rules on sports gambling.
This news follows the significant suspension of Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto, who received a 41-game ban for a similar offense in October, which only lead to him making his season debut two weeks ago.
As reported by Mark Masters of TSN, Barzal openly confessed to placing a bet on the accuracy contest, challenging Toronto Maple Leafs' standout Auston Matthews.
''Threw $100 on it. Yeah, probably not the best bet for me to go head-to-head with him in a shooting competition. He's a student of the game. I love the game as well so we were just messing around''
While Barzal's acknowledgment may seem like nothing to worry about initially, it raises important questions about compliance with league policies and how strict they have become.
This disclosure raises concerns about potential consequences for Barzal.