The Toronto Maple Leafs held their final practice of their regular season opener. Fraser Minten and Noah Gregor earn spots in the opening-night lineup. Morgan Rielly has thrown his support behind former teammate Travis Dermott after he used Pride Tape following its ban at the start of this season. Dermott, who's been a long time supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, has had Pride Tape on his stick dating back to his time with the Maple Leafs. And it looks like the ban wasn't going to stop him from continuing to show that support. [gallery ids="4169,4170,4171"] On Monday, Sportsnet's Luke Fox spoke with Rielly about Dermott's decision to defy the NHL's ban. (Rielly has also been an ally for the LGBTQ+ community, attending Toronto's Pride Parade with the Maple Leafs.) "If you look back at pictures, he's always done that," the Maple Leafs' alternate captain told Fox. "Whenever you're asked not to do something and you do it anyway, it takes a little bit of courage, and I support him. I think it's a good move by him." The NHL sent out a memo before the start of this season that stated no players were to use Pride Tape on their sticks. And in the Arizona Coyotes home opener, Dermott made himself the first NHL player to defy that order. According to Front Office Sports, the 26-year-old defenseman ordered several rolls of the tape when the ban came down. Although there's been no official statement from the NHL on this matter, the league did tell The Athletic [https://x.com/TheAthletic/status/1715893258717442142?s=20] that they "will review it in due course." Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Justin Holl Leading the NHL in Surprising Stat While With Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/former-maple-leafs-defenseman-justin-holl-leading-the-nhl-in-surprising-stat-while-with-red-wings] Ilya Samsonov Explains His Current Rough Stretch With Maple Leafs: 'It's Not What I Want to See' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/ilya-samsonov-explains-his-current-rough-stretch-with-maple-leafs-its-not-what-i-want-to-see] Capitals' Rasmus Sandin Excited to Take on Close Friend William Nylander and Maple Leafs for the First Time: 'It's Going To Be A Lot of Fun' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/capitals-rasmus-sandin-excited-to-take-on-close-friend-william-nylander-and-maple-leafs-for-the-first-time-its-going-to-be-a-lot-of-fun] News from THN.com Dad Strength: Jacob Markstrom Focuses on Rebound Year for Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/news/dad-strength-jacob-markstrom-focuses-on-rebound-year-for-flames] NHL Three Stars: Stellar Standouts in Colorado, Detroit and Florida [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-three-stars-stellar-standouts-in-colorado-detroit-and-florida] In the NHL's Atlantic Division, the Battle for Playoff Position Has Already Begun [https://thehockeynews.com/news/in-the-nhls-atlantic-division-the-battle-for-playoff-position-has-already-begun]
