Coyotes defenceman Travis Dermott is proud of the NHL's response on Pride Tape.

Arizona Coyotes defenceman Travis Dermott changed the way NHL players are able to express social issues.

Prior to the start of the 2023-24 season, the NHL banned players from using Pride Tape. However that did not stop Dermott who used Pride Tape on the shaft of his stick during the Coyotes 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.

These events allowed the NHL to reconsider their original ruling and the league ultimately reversed its ban.

"After consultation with the NHL Players' Association and the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition, Players will now have the option to voluntarily represent social causes with their stick tape throughout the season," via a statement from the NHL.

Dermott knew he was taking a major risk by making this sort of statement but he felt it was necessary.

"None of the players really saw me put it on my stick," Dermott said via The Athletic. "It was kind of just an, 'All right, I'm doing this, and we're going to deal with the consequences and move forward, and hopefully I'll have a positive impact on some people that needed that positive impact.'"

While Dermott is happy with the NHL’s response, unbanning Pride Tape, he hopes this serves as a lesson for the entire league going forward.

"It's amazing," Dermott said. "You really become proud for who you're working for when people are able to second-guess their choices and just kind of take a step back and see who they're affecting and how they're affecting (them). To be able to have them really take a step in the right direction here in my eyes is unbelievable. It really makes me proud of the spot that I'm working in.

"Hopefully going forward, not just myself and the team but the whole league gets kind of a better game plan going forward with this. We're not singling guys out for their religious beliefs and all that stuff. But if guys want to go out of their way to support a cause that is impactful to a lot of people, then why not give us that voice? I really respect and honor the word that the league has put in for this."

This is a step in the right direction for the NHL, all led by Dermott and his willingness to put himself on the line for a greater cause.